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. The lyrics are from
'Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of' by U2 which are not mine either.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Really Love You
On a Saturday morning in the middle of November, Karen was awakened by someone shaking her arm. Without opening her eyes, she turned over and snuggled up closer to Jack. When she realized that it wasn't Jack who was shaking her arm, Karen's eyes opened wide. She turned her head and saw that it had been Elizabeth who had been shaking her arm. "Ebie?" she said tiredly.
"I had bad dream Mama," Elizabeth said, tears running down her cheeks.
"Come here honey," Karen said, smiling. She turned to her daughter and then helped her up on the bed. "Tell me what your dream was about Ebie," she said as she settled Elizabeth in between her and Jack.
With a sniffle, Elizabeth put her arms around Karen's neck and proceeded to tell her about the nightmare she had just had.
Jack heard the voices talking low as they were cutting into his sleep. With a sigh, he reached over to grab Karen when he touched a small hand. "Oh my god, Kare, you shrunk!" he said, opening his eyes.
"It's me Daddy!" Elizabeth said giggling as she turned to her father and kissed his check.
"Oh thank god, I was so scared that you had shrunk or something Kare," Jack said with a grin, looking over at his wife.
"Thank you poodle," Karen said wryly. She sat up and then leaned over, kissing Jack's cheek softly.
As Karen left the bed, Jack said, "Where are you going?"
"To get our other daughter," Karen said as she started to walk out of the room. "Remember honey, we've got two of them."
Jack laughed as she left and then he sat up, leaning against the headboard. "So little one, why did you come to our bed?" he asked, picking Elizabeth up.
"Bad dream," Elizabeth said simply as she rested her head on her father's shoulder.
"Aw, well it's okay now Ebie," Jack said, kissing the top of her head. "You know what?"
"What Daddy?" Elizabeth asked, looking up at her father.
"I'm gonna take you, your sister and your mom out someplace nice today," Jack said, smiling down at her.
"Can we go see bears?" Elizabeth said hopefully.
"Oh honey, no, not the zoo," Karen said as she walked into the room, Sophia in her arms.
"No?" Elizabeth said as her mother sat down next to Jack on the bed.
"Maybe your daddy can take you and Sophie this week while I'm at work," Karen said.
Elizabeth started to sniffle again and she pouted her lips, looking at her mother.
"Ebie... oh alright, alright, we'll go to the zoo!" Karen said in exasperation. "I just can't say no to those eyes and that pouting."
"She got that down pretty quickly," Jack said with a small laugh. "And that's 'cause she learned from the best."
Karen laughed and then kissed Jack on the lips softly. "When we come back from the zoo, it's just you and me for two hours," she whispered in his ear.
"Sure," Jack said quickly, smiling. He set Elizabeth down on the mattress and then took Sophia from Karen. "Good morning sweetie," he said, kissing her forehead.
"Can we go now?" Elizabeth said after her parents had been quiet for about ten minutes.
"It's only ten o'clock Ebie," Karen said, pulling their daughter onto her lap. "We'll go in an hour or so."
~~~
Karen and Jack walked down a path of Central Park with their daughters. They were heading for the zoo and Elizabeth was obviously excited.
"What do you want to go see first?" Jack said, looking down at Elizabeth who was walking next to him, holding his hand tightly.
"Bears Daddy," Elizabeth said eagerly. "Wanna go see bears."
"We will Ebie," Jack said, smiling. "Anything you want to see Kare?"
"A nice martini," Karen said, rolling her eyes. She shifted Sophia to her other arm and looked at her husband. When she saw that Jack was looking at her strangely, she then said, "I'm joking poodle; I just want to get this over with as fast as we can so we can go home."
"Don't worry Kare," Jack said as they walked into the zoo after buying tickets. "I want to make this fast too."
Together they walked through the zoo, going over to the bears first for Elizabeth to see. When they got to the cage, there were a surprising amount of people looking at the polar bears.
"Here Ebie," Jack said, lifting her up into his arms. "Can you see now?"
"No Daddy," Elizabeth said a little angrily, trying to crane her neck over the heads of the people in front of her.
Jack smiled and then placed Elizabeth on his shoulder; holding her there securely so she wouldn't fall off.
Karen was watching her daughter looking at the polar bears in excitement, and she laughed. She was going to say something to Jack when two hands came around and covered her eyes.
"Guess who?" a familiar voice asked.
Using her free hand, Karen lifted one of the hands off her eye and then turned around. "Hi Kath, you guys are here too?" she said, smiling at her sister.
"Yeah, the kids got their report cards yesterday, and since they both did so well, we decided to bring them here to celebrate," Katherine said as Edward and then their children walked up behind her.
"Hey Sister Katherine, Eddie," Jack said as he turned around, taking Elizabeth down from his shoulder. "Want to join us?"
"Can we Mummy?" Amber said, asking Katherine.
"Alright, but only until we have to leave for the movies," Katherine said, smiling and then taking her daughter's hand.
The group set off and walked through the rest of the zoo, looking at all the animals and then stopping for a brief lunch at a deli across the street from Central Park when they had left.
"Thanks for letting us accompany you guys Kare," Katherine said as she and her family walked Karen and Jack and their daughters to the limo.
"Kath, I wanted to ask, how are you doing?" Karen asked as Jack took Sophia and Elizabeth into the limo.
"I'm okay," Katherine said, knowing her sister was talking about. "Not cutting myself anymore."
Karen looked at her sister with a slightly doubtful look on her face. "I hope you're telling me the truth Kath," she said, squeezing her sister's hand gently.
"I am Kare," Katherine said.
With a smile, Karen waved goodbye to Edward and her niece and nephew before she got into the back of the limo with Jack. "She's lying," she commented as the limo started down the street.
"Who's lying?" Jack asked as Elizabeth went over to Karen and sat next to her.
"Kath, I asked her how she's been doing," Karen explained. "She said she's not cutting herself, but I can tell she lied to me."
Jack sighed and then put an arm around Karen's shoulder. "She's been seeing her psychiatrist again right?" he asked.
"Yeah, but I wonder if that helps her at all," Karen said, looking up at Jack. "I have a bad feeling that she's not going to stop until she's taken her own life poodle, and I'm so scared." With that, tears started to fall down her cheeks slowly and she buried her face in Jack's chest.
Holding his wife as she cried softly, Jack sighed and glanced over at their daughters. "Kare," he whispered. "Look."
Sniffling, Karen moved back slightly from Jack and then wiped the tears from her eyes. She turned her head and was surprised to see that Elizabeth and Sophia were lying out on the seat across from Jack and Karen, asleep. "That's so sweet," she said, smiling. She turned back to Jack and then hugged him tightly. "Thank you poodle," she whispered into his ear.
"I didn't do anything Kare," Jack said softly. "Kare, do you still want to make love when we get back?" he whispered to her.
"Do you want to?" Karen responded, looking at him. When he nodded, she brought his lips down to hers and kissed him deeply. "Then we will Jackie," she said when they had pulled back, both of them breathless.
~~~
Back at the penthouse, Jack, with Rosario's help, put Sophia and Elizabeth in their rooms for an afternoon nap.
Karen went up to hers and Jack's bedroom, ordered by Jack to go straight over there and wait for him to come so she could get a little rest. She unfastened her high-heeled shoes and threw them under the window. She got on top of the comforter and lay on her back, looking up at the ceiling.
Jack walked into the bedroom and closed the door, locking it firmly. He went over to the bed and sat on the edge next to Karen. "You know, maybe you should talk to Kat about how you feel," he said, taking her hand. He brought the palm up to his lips and then kissed it gently a few times.
"She won't listen to me," Karen said, closing her eyes. "She never does."
"I wish I could help you more with her Kare, I really do," Jack said, looking sad.
"Oh honey, you do enough just helping me through this," Karen said, sitting up. "Just don't leave me Jackie; I don't think I could go through this without your help."
"I won't Kare, I promise," Jack said, holding her tightly to him. He pulled away from her slightly and he kissed her lips gently.
Karen deepened the kiss, pushing her tongue gently into Jack's mouth as she clutched at his shoulders. "Oh Jackie, I love you so much," she whispered as they pulled apart and then got down on the mattress.
"I love you too Karebear," Jack said, pushing her hair back and kissing her neck softly. As he was doing that, he slid his hand up from her leg, where it had been resting, up until he slipped it under her blouse.
Gasping lightly and throwing her head back on the pillow, Karen grabbed onto Jack's arm before his hand could reach her bra under her blouse. "Wait Jackie," she said. She let go of him arm and then started to unbutton her shirt.
Jack helped her take off the shirt and then leaned forward, resting his head above her breasts.
"What are you doing honey?" Karen asked, stroking his hair.
"Listening to your heartbeat," Jack said immediately. He turned his head and then kissed the skin above her heart. Then he lifted his head and helped Karen remove her bra.
"Jackie," Karen said a few minutes later, as he was kissing her breasts. "Make love to me now, no teasing."
"Are you sure?" Jack asked, looking up at her.
When Karen responded yes, she helped Jack remove his clothes and then took off hers. She pulled his body on top of hers and then helped him enter her with his member. "I love you Jackie," Karen whispered as he started to thrust in and out of her slowly.
"Hmm, I love you too Kare," Jack said before he pressed his lips down to hers firmly.
As he kissed her neck again, Karen held on to Jack's neck tightly, moaning every time Jack would thrust back into her. When she felt that she was nearing the edge, she pulled Jack's lips up to hers for another passionate kiss. A few minutes later, she broke away from him and then arched her body up as she climaxed, calling out his name.
Jack pumped in and out of Karen one last time before he too climaxed, pressing his cheek next to hers. When he was sated, he let his body rest on top of Karen's.
"Thank you Jackie," Karen said as she ran her fingers through his slightly damp hair.
"No problem," Jack answered, still a little breathless. "You know Kare," he said a few minutes later, lifting his head up from her breasts. "Anytime you want to go again..."
"How about now?" Karen asked, squeezing her legs together.
"Oooh," Jack groaned as he felt himself growing aroused again. "Now is a very good time." With that, he started to thrust in and out of her, this time slowly so he and Karen could kiss.
"Are you going to go faster?" Karen asked in between kisses. She was running her hands up and down his back, almost massaging it.
"I don't want to," Jack said before he gave her a deep kiss. "We can go faster later on."
Karen closed her eyes, concentrating on meeting Jack's body with her own every time he thrust into her. A few minutes later, she felt him lift up off her body slightly. She didn't think anything of it, until she felt his fingers lightly brush her stomach as he made his way down. She opened her eyes wide and looked up at him in slight surprise as he started to stroke her quickly. "Jackie... oh fuck!" she moaned as she suddenly climaxed around him.
"God Kare... I love you," Jack said a second later into her ear huskily as he achieved him release.
"I love you too," Karen said, looking at him lovingly as they were recovering several minutes later.
~~~
At five o'clock, Jack and Karen walked out of their bathroom after just having had a shower together. They had changed into their pajamas and got underneath the covers as Jack picked up the phone on the nightstand.
While he was talking to Rosario about getting their dinner, Karen kissed his cheek and then got off the bed. She went to Elizabeth's room and took her out of the bed. "You're going to eat with your daddy and me in our room tonight," Karen explained as she changed Elizabeth into her pajamas.
"Why?" the little girl asked curiously as Karen set her on the floor.
"Don't you want to have dinner with me and Daddy?" Karen asked, pretending to be hurt.
"Yes Mamma, I sorry!" Elizabeth hurriedly, hugging her mother around her legs.
"Good, go on to our room and tell your daddy that I'm going to get Sophie," Karen said as she and Elizabeth walked out of the room. While the little girl was going over to Jack and hers bedroom, Karen went to Sophia's room.
The baby was standing up in her crib and she cried out in happiness when she saw Karen. "Mama!" she said, letting go of the teddy bear in her hand.
"Sophie, come on honey, let's go have dinner," Karen said, taking her daughter out of the crib. When she walked into the bedroom, she saw that Jack and Elizabeth were sitting on a blanket that was spread out in front of the fireplace which had a fire burning in it.
"I didn't know if you wanted to do this, but I had Rosario make us sandwiches," Jack said as Karen sat down on the blanket next to him. "I wanted to have a little picnic."
"This is a good idea poodle," Karen said, kissing Jack's cheek. She set Sophia down on the blanket and watched as the baby stood up and walked over to her sister.
"I'm so glad they're getting along so well," Jack said as he stopped Elizabeth from letting Sophia have a bite of her sandwich. "Don't give her that little one."
"Why Daddy?" Elizabeth asked, peering up at her father.
"It's not good for her now," Jack said. He then reached over and grabbed a sandwich from the plate Rosario had brought up. "You can give this one to your sister."
Elizabeth nodded solemnly and then gave the sandwich, which was peanut butter and jelly, to Sophia.
Karen smiled as she watched their daughters eat and leaned her head on Jack's shoulder, sighing contentedly.
"This is really nice huh?" Jack said, putting his arm around her waist.
"Yes," Karen said, smiling at Elizabeth and Sophia. "I never thought I'd be so happy in a situation like this."
"Oh I know what you mean Kare," Jack said quickly with a grin on his face. He kissed the top of her head and then the two of them continued eating their sandwiches.
~~~
That night, Karen was putting Sophia in her crib when Jack came into the room.
"Are you done yet?" he asked, putting his arms around Karen's waist.
"Hold on poodle," Karen said, covering the baby with a blanket.
"Yeah, real easy to wait for you Kare," Jack said. He pressed his body up against hers and grinned when she gasped. "See?"
"Okay, okay," Karen said shifting slightly against the obvious bulge in Jack's trousers. "Let's go before you explode honey," she said, taking Jack's hand and leading him out of the room.
As soon as Jack had closed their bedroom door behind them, he whirled Karen back and then pressed her against the door. He kissed her roughly, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth, making it swollen.
Karen groaned lightly, letting herself lose control and getting lost in the kiss. After a few minutes, she pulled away from him to breathe and remember what she had wanted to do to him. "Come here Jackie," she said seductively, motioning with her finger. She slipped away from him and then walked over to the bed.
Smiling, Jack hurried over to the bed as Karen was laying down on it. He had intended to just make love to her right away without even bother to take their clothes off, but she had other plans.
"Not so fast," Karen said as she straddled Jack's groin. She reached down and unbuttoned his pajama top, deliberately wriggling around, making him groan loudly in lust and desire.
"And you think I'm a bad tease?" Jack said as Karen got off of him. He sat up and took off his shirt while she removed his trousers.
"I always give you a chance for release, don't I Jackie?" Karen asked, a small smile on her face and her head titled to the side. Without waiting for an answer, she knelt down and took his member into her mouth.
Gritting his teeth together, Jack reached out and took a handful of the bed sheets in his hand, clutching them tightly as Karen worked her mouth up and down his shaft. After about ten minutes, his other hand clenched into a fist and he groaned out his release.
"See, I'm not so mean," Karen said as she sat up. She then went over to her nightstand and then took out their book from the cabinet part.
"I don't want to use that tonight Kare," Jack said, coming up behind her. "I want to look at you while I'm fucking you."
Those words made a shiver of pleasure pass through Karen's body and she returned the book back to the nightstand. She turned to face him and said, "Okay, then knock yourself out poodle."
Jack smiled broadly, pulling Karen to him as he kissed her deeply. He was going to take off her nightgown when he got an idea. "I love you Kare," he mumbled as he settled her on his member.
"Wait... Jackie," Karen breathed as he made her move up and down on him. "Let me take this off o-"
"No Kare, leave it on," Jack said as he moved his hands to her ass.
Karen nodded, too focused on the pleasure she was feeling to really care about the nightgown.
After a few minutes, Jack reached up with one hand and slid one of the straps off of Karen's shoulder, exposing her breast to him. He immediately descended on it, enveloping the nipple with his mouth and dragging his tongue over it.
"Oh Jackie," Karen cried out, feeling incredibly erotic. She placed her hands around his head and moaned as he moved over to free the other breast.
After they had been making love for a very long time, Jack thrust up into Karen's body roughly, and they both went crashing over the edge.
"Oh my god Jackie, JACK, JACK!" Karen kept screaming over and over as she climaxed around him.
"Jesus Kare... you're s-so tight around me," Jack moaned at the start of his orgasm. Then his hands tightened on Karen's ass and he yelled, "Oooh fuck... KARE!"
Karen closed her eyes tightly and then slumped against her husband's chest when they were both sated. Breathing hard, she said, "I love you honey."
"Kare... I love you too," Jack said with a smile on his face. He titled Karen's head up so she was looking at him, and then he kissed her deeply.
~~~
Two days later, Monday, Karen and Katherine were at Grace's office, even though Grace herself wasn't there.
"Tell me why we came here since Grace didn't?" Karen asked, standing next to her sister. She had gotten bored with her magazines and didn't want to change her nail polish since Jack liked the color she had on so much. So she had decided to watch her sister at work, which she had never really done before.
"I need to get a lot of work done," Katherine said. "And you didn't have to come if you really didn't want to Kare."
"I don't like the idea of you being alone," Karen said, putting her hand on Katherine's shoulder.
"Ouch!" Katherine cried, moving away from Karen.
"What the hell did I do?" Karen asked in surprise.
Rubbing her shoulder lightly, Katherine shook her head. "I just got a bit of a bruise there," she said.
"Edward didn't do that I hope," Karen said, running her fingers through her sister's loose hair.
"Of course not!" Katherine said in surprise. "It was just an accident."
"Kath, honey, I wanted to talk to you about something," Karen said, making her sister turn in her chair to face her.
"Well, I hope it's quick, because I need to get some fabric-" Katherine started to say.
"I don't want you to do this to yourself again," Karen said as she started to unbutton her sister's blouse.
"What are you doing?" Katherine asked, surprised.
"Don't worry, I won't have sex with you are anything," Karen said. She took Katherine's right arm out of the sleeve and saw the skin on her shoulder; red scratches signifying new cuts and white raised lines signifying old ones. "Shit," she said, staring down.
"Kare, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" Katherine yelled angrily, getting out of her chair and walking away from her sister.
"I wanted to see if you were cutting yourself again, and I was right," Karen said, looking sad and worried.
"But you should know you're not alone in that Mrs. O'Neill," a voice said from the doorway.
Katherine and Karen turned to see a young woman with light brown hair and green eyes watching them.
"Who are you?" Katherine asked as she buttoned her blouse. She thought those green eyes looked incredibly familiar to her.
"Norah Stiles right?" Karen asked the woman. When Norah nodded, she then said, "What are you doing here?"
"Wait, Stiles?" Katherine said, confused. "You're Christopher's sister then."
"I am," Norah said, nodding slightly again.
"Why did you come here? Is, is something wrong with Christopher?" Katherine asked in a worried tone of voice.
"It's about my brother," Norah said, sighing. "Mrs. O'Neill-"
"Katherine if you please," she said, interrupting Norah.
"You have to go and talk with my brother. He's been a wreck ever since he got home from Boston," Norah said, her eyes tearing up.
"Is he hurting himself?" Karen asked, remembering what Norah had said when she walked into the office.
"I have a strong suspicion," Norah said, looking down at the floor. "I've been noticing knifes and razor with blood on them all over his apartment when I visit him." She then looked up at Katherine, and her voice took on a pleading tone. "Please Katherine; you need to go see him. If it's just to try and be friends again, anything so he doesn't kill himself."
Katherine was quiet and she looked down at her left arm, briefly touching her wrist. "Where does he live?" she asked, looking up at the two women standing in front of her. She saw her sister's expression and said, "I'll just go to speak with him, nothing else Kare."
"Oh thank you so much," Norah said, finally bursting into tears. She gave Katherine a piece of paper with the address of her brother's apartment and then hugged her tightly for a few minutes. "I know that everything will get better now."
~~~
Handing the cabbie the money for the trip, Katherine got out of the taxi and then closed the car door behind her. She looked up at the building and checked the address Norah had given her; it was the right place. She was let into the building and headed over to the front desk.
Inside his bedroom, Christopher Stiles was sitting on his bed, trying to will himself to get up and do something with himself. He didn't see any point in trying to do so, so he remained seated. He heard a knock on his door and glanced up. 'Probably Norah to bug you again,' he thought inside his mind. When the person continued to knock, he grew angry and stood up. "God damn it Norah, what the hell do you..." Christopher said as he opened the door to his apartment.
"Sorry Paul," Katherine said, her habit of using his middle name returning to her quickly.
"Emma, oh my god, I'm so sorry about that," Christopher said. "Please, come inside."
Katherine walked into the apartment and almost started to cry at what she saw. The place wasn't messy or anything, it was just completely dark. She herself had done this in the bathroom whenever she was about to cut herself and she realized that Norah was right about her brother.
"What are you doing here?" Christopher asked as he led Katherine to the couch in the main room. "Do you want something to drink at all?"
"I'm fine Paul," Katherine said. She took a deep breath and then said, "I came here because I'd heard-"
"From Norah no doubt," Christopher interrupted.
"That you've been depressed ever since... Boston," Katherine said, nodding.
"Yeah, so what?" Christopher said brusquely. "Nothing you can do about that, you didn't want to go ahead with the affair."
"You're right, I didn't," Katherine said calmly. "But I thought we could be friends again."
Christopher laughed so hard at that, that tears of laughter ran down his face. "As much as I would love that, it's impossible," he said once he had calmed down.
"Why?" Katherine asked, surprised.
"I can barely stand the thought of your husband fucking you every night, touching your body now; how could I take it if we became friends again," Christopher said bitterly.
Katherine's cheeks became red and then she said, "Well I can't really do anything about that Paul. Maybe if you gave our friendship one chance, it could be different this time."
"One..." Christopher began to say. He suddenly was struck by an idea and he looked at Katherine with wide eyes. "Katherine, I can't be friends with you while you're married, I just can't do that."
"Then I guess I should go," Katherine said. She started to get up off the couch when Christopher stopped her, kneeling in front of her with his hands on her legs.
"I'd like for you to grant me one thing before I leave your life forever Emma," he said softly.
"What?" Katherine asked apprehensively.
"Give me one night with you Emma," Christopher pleaded. "Just one night for us to make love to each other."
"I-I don't know..." Katherine said, completely surprised by the request.
"Just one night," Christopher repeated, resting his head in her lap. "I want to know I've had you at least once; that you've had me too."
"Can I think about this?" Katherine asked.
Christopher moved away from her and said, "Go ahead, but please, don't take too long Emma."
"I'll try and decide as soon as I can Paul," Katherine said as she walked to the front door.
"Yes, if you take too long... I may already be dead," Christopher said as he closed the apartment door behind Katherine. He leaned his forehead against it and then slid down to the floor. He clasped his hands together and proceeded to do something he hadn't done since he was a child; pray.
~~~
Katherine walked to the front door of her penthouse, and paused with her hand on the doorknob. She could hear her husband's laughter from inside, and she felt racked with guilt all of a sudden. With a strangled, low cry, she turned and ran back to the elevators.
"Hey Kare," Jack called from Elizabeth's room. "What time does that movie start on TV tonight?"
"Which movie honey?" Karen asked as she walked into the room.
"Cat in the Hat," Jack said, handing Elizabeth to his wife. "I thought we were going to watch that with Ebie tonight."
"Did you bother to ask her if she wanted to see it?" Karen asked Jack saucily.
"Oh, no, hold on a sec," Jack said, pretending she was being serious. He knelt down so his face was even with Elizabeth's and then asked, "Want to watch 'Cat in the Hat' tonight with me and your mommy?"
Elizabeth nodded enthusiastically. Then she paused and asked, "Can Sophie watch?"
"No honey," Karen said, kissing her daughter's cheek. "She'll be asleep when we watch it." Seeing that her daughter looked a little unsure, she went on to say, "But that's okay Ebie, you guys will watch another movie together tomorrow, I promise."
A smile spreading across her face, Elizabeth giggled and then kissed Karen's cheek. "Go watch now Mama, Daddy!" she said happily.
"Karen, Jack, thank god you guys are here," a voice said from the doorway.
They turned and were surprised to see that it was Katherine.
"Kath... what's wrong," Karen asked, handing Elizabeth to Jack. She hurried over to her sister and took her hands.
"Oh god, oh god," Katherine said, bursting into tears. "I don't know what to do Kare, I just don't know." She then stepped forward and hugged Karen, burying her face on her sister's shoulder.
"Kare, take her to the living room," Jack whispered. He followed them out and when they went to the living room, he went to Rosario's room.
"Oh no, what does Miss Karen want now?" Rosario asked, rolling her eyes.
"Just watch Ebie for us Rosario," Jack said curtly, placing the little girl on the maid's bed.
"What's wrong Mister Jack?" Rosario asked, instantly worried.
Jack didn't answer her though and walked back to the living room. He was surprised to see that Karen and Katherine were walking in from the direction of the dining room.
"Help me poodle," Karen said when she spotted him. "Kath threw up and she's very weak."
Hurrying over to them, Jack took Katherine from his wife and led her to the couch.
"Do you want me to get you a washcloth?" Karen asked her sister worriedly.
Katherine grabbed her hand to keep her for leaving. "Just stay, please," she rasped.
"What happened," Jack asked as he and Karen sat together on the coffee table in front of the couch.
"I went to see Pa- Christopher," Katherine said, closing her eyes. "Norah was right Kare, he's cutting himself too."
"Oh no, Kath..." Karen said sadly, squeezing her sister's hand.
"I tried to ask him if we could be friends again, but...he refused," Katherine said. "And," she paused, her eyes filling up with tears. "And he begged for one night with me."
"You, did you agree to that?" Jack asked, picking up on what she meant immediately.
"No, I wanted to, but I thought I should think about it seriously first," Katherine said, her tears spilling from her eyes.
Karen leaned forward and rested her cheek against her sister's. "You know what I'm going to say Kath," she whispered. "Why did you come here to talk with us?"
"Because you're my sister," Katherine said, her breath hitching with sobs. "I have no one else to turn to but the two of you."
"Do you want our opinion about this?" Jack said as he took Katherine's other hand.
"Yes, not that I'll necessarily do what you say though," Katherine said softly.
"I don't think you should, you'd really hurt Eddie more with a one night stand than an affair," Jack said.
"I'm with him honey," Karen said, kissing Katherine's forehead softly. "You know that you love Eddie very much and it would kill him when he found out."
"Don't you mean if," Katherine said, looking at her sister.
"How would you be able to pull it off without him finding out?" Karen asked. "You guys are together a lot."
Katherine sighed and then sat up slowly. "I still need to think about this," she said, squeezing Jack's hand and then Karen's before she let go of them. "I'm sorry I bothered you guys."
"No you didn't," Jack said easily as he helped her stand up. "We're family and family members help each other when they need it."
"You've married a great man," Katherine said with a small smile to her sister.
"I know Kath, I know," Karen said, kissing Jack's cheek softly. "Call me if you need anything later okay honey?" she said as she hugged her sister when they got to the front door.
"I will," Katherine said. "Bye."
When Jack had closed the door behind her, he turned to look at Karen. "I'm so sorry Kare," he said as he took her into his arms.
"I don't know why this had to happen," Karen said sadly. "Just when everything was going so well."
"Kat will do the right thing," Jack said, sounding unsure.
"I doubt it poodle," Karen said with a short laugh. She let go of Jack and then said, "Where's Ebie, I want to hold her in my arms right now."
"I left her with Rosario," Jack said. "I'll get her for you." And with that, he went towards the back of the penthouse to fetch their daughter.
~~~
After a family dinner, Katherine went to the living room and sat down at her piano, ready to think seriously about her problem.
"Are you going to play some songs for us Ma?" Patrick asked eagerly as he, Amber and then Edward gathered on the couch behind her.
"Yes Patrick, I am," Katherine said softly. She placed her fingers on the keys and played the scale for a few times.
"You guys should be quiet," Amber said importantly to her father and brother.
"Why?" Patrick asked.
"She's playing so she can think," Amber responded.
Katherine took a deep breath and then started to sing.
I'm not afraid of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me that I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find a decent melody
A song that I can sing in my own company
I never thought you were a fool
But darling, look at you
You gotta stand up straight, carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere, baby
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better now you're stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it
I will not forsake, the colours that you bring
But the nights you filled with fireworks
They left you with nothing
I am still enchanted by the light you brought to me
I still listen through your ears, and through your eyes I can see
And you are such a fool
To worry like you do
I know its tough, and you can never get enough
Of what you don't really need now... my oh my
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it
Oh love look at you now
You've got yourself stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it
I was unconscious half asleep
The water is till you discover how deep...
I wasn't jumping... for me it was a fall
It's a long way down to nothing at all
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better now
You're stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it
And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if your way should falter
Along the stony pass
It's just a moment
This time will pass
After waiting a few minutes, Edward spoke. "That was wonderful, Katy. I forgot to mention something at dinner earlier to you all though."
"What?" Katherine said, not moving at all.
"I need to go to England the day after Thanksgiving for a week," Edward said, sounding sad.
Katherine closed her eyes and she came to a decision about what she was going to do. "It's alright James," she said softly as she got off the piano bench. "It's only a week after all."
"Where are you going Mummy?" Amber asked.
"I need to make a couple of phone calls," Katherine said as she left the room.
~~~
Jack and Karen were in the media room, watching 'The Cat in the Hat' with Elizabeth, when the phone rang.
"I'll get it Kare," Jack said before his wife could answer the phone. "McFarland residence, Jack McFarland here."
"Jackie-boy, it's me," Katherine said on the other end. "Listen," she then said before he could respond. "Tell Kare that I've decide what I'm going to do..."
A few minutes later, Jack hung up the phone and Karen immediately questioned him. "Never mind Kare, we'll talk about that later," he said.
Karen was dying from curiosity about the phone call, but she kept quiet so that her daughter could watch the rest of the movie.
Later that night, Jack took Elizabeth and put her to bed so Karen could change into her pajamas. He put their daughter in her bed and covered her with the sheets. "Night little one," he said softly, kissing her cheek.
Karen put on her red silk night gown before going out to the bed and getting on top of the comforter. As soon as Jack walked in and closed the door, she asked, "Who called earlier?"
Jack sighed and walked to the bed, standing in front of it. "It was Kat," he began. "She told me that she decided what to do about Christopher."
"And?" Karen asked anxiously.
"She told me Eddie's going to England for a week after Thanksgiving," Jack said. "She's going to go ahead and do it then."
"No!" Karen suddenly screamed, covering her face with her hands. "Oh god, why?"
"Kare, she said for me to tell you that she's doing this so Christopher doesn't become so depressed that he'll kill himself," Jack said, going over to her on the bed quickly.
"Oh god," Karen repeated, hugging Jack. "I hate that man, I hate him!"
"Kare..." Jack said slowly at first. He couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous at all the concern she was showing towards Edward.
"I've been friends with Eddie for a long time," Karen said in explanation. "I hate to see him hurt."
"Maybe he won't find out about this," Jack said gently, rubbing his hand up and down Karen's back.
"Damn it," Karen muttered angrily. Then she sighed and turned to her husband, the anger gone from her eyes. "Jackie, can you help me forget about this for now?"
"Is that a good idea?" Jack said, looking hesitant.
"I need to honey," Karen said, sighing as she started to undress him. "I was going to anyway before the phone call."
Jack nodded and then helped Karen take off her nightgown. "It seems like a waste sometimes when you wear this one," he commented as they both turned their minds from Katherine and towards their love making.
"Why?" Karen asked and she giggled at Jack's surprised looked when he saw she was naked under the nightgown.
"I hate to take it off sometimes," Jack said, staring at her breasts and then running his fingers over her left one. "You know you look so damn sexy in red."
"Oh honey, I know," Karen said knowingly, smiling as she ran her fingers over his member. When Jack groaned again, she took his shaft in her hand and started to run it up and down.
"Wait, not right now Kare," Jack said, shuddering pleasurably.
"Shut up poodle," Karen said in a gentle tone of voice. She continued to move her hand up and down his member for a few more minutes. Then she moved and enveloped him in her mouth.
"Gooood idea Kare," Jack moaned as he watched her pleasuring him. Ten minutes passed, and he tangled his fingers in her hair as he achieved his relief, unknowingly thrusting his hips up.
"Some one was too eager tonight," Karen said as she sat back up a few minutes later. She licked her lips and cleaned off the rest of Jack's release. "I thought you were going to choke me Jackie."
"Oh no... I didn't hurt you did I?" Jack asked worriedly, still glowing from the pleasuring session.
"No honey, just take it easier next time I do that," Karen said, patting his member lightly.
"Kare," Jack said gently, looking up and down her body. "I see something on your thigh, let me look."
Glancing down, Karen didn't see anything and she got what Jack was doing. "Yeah, you better Jackie," she said, lying back on the mattress.
Jack spread her legs apart as he settled down, hovering above her legs. "Hmm, well I don't see anything, but... there could be something up here," he said, trying not to giggle.
"Oh honey, I feel something," Karen suddenly said. "It hurts a little bit."
"Where?" Jack asked quickly.
"Here," Karen said, her voice becoming husky. She moved her fingers down and brushed them against her entrance.
Moving her fingers away gently, Jack lowered his head and then flicked out his tongue, barely brushing against her sex.
"Ugh! Jackie, no teasing!" Karen said after moaning loudly.
"Anything you want Karebear," Jack murmured. He then proceeded to pleasure her, using his tongue and then his fingers as well.
"Ooo, oh Jackie!" Karen cried out, arching her body up to his mouth as she reached her peak. When she was sated a few minutes later, she sat up and pulled Jack to sit up too. "Thank you poodle, that was wonderful," she said before she pulled him into a deep kiss.
Without even asking if she was ready, Jack settled her on his lap, her legs spread apart. He felt Karen gasp while they were kissing, and he entered her slowly with his member which had become erect as he had pleasured her.
"Poodle, let me lay down this time," Karen said as he held her hips, making her move up and down on his member.
Jack nodded and then moved around so she was lying down on a pillow. He ran his hand up and down her leg as he thrust in and out of her quickly.
Karen opened her eyes at the feel of Jack's hand on her leg and then she shifted her leg up, draping it over his shoulder.
"Whoa, Kare," Jack moaned, feeling his member slide into her body deeper. He moaned a little more loudly and then started to move quickly.
"Hmm, oh honey, yess," Karen moaned closing her eyes and putting her arms around his neck.
"I... I love you Karen McFarland," Jack grunted a long time later as he felt that he was reaching the edge.
Crying out in ecstasy, Karen lifted her head and screamed, "Oh Jackie, oooh fuck... faster." When he did so, she finally climaxed, again and again, and shrieked, "Yess oh poodle, yess JACKIE!"
"K-Kare, oh my god..." Jack said as he felt her orgasm repeatedly around him. He thrust in one more time and then yelled, "Ugh, Jesus... KARE!" as he climaxed in her over and over. When he was sated, he let his body fall on top of hers, Karen's leg slipping off his body.
"Thank you so much Jackie," Karen said, stroking Jack's sweaty hair and then his back.
"Kare, I love you very, very deeply," Jack whispered, running his finger on her breast.
"Oh honey, I love you so much too," Karen answered, lifting his head up so they could kiss passionately.
"Let's get a little sleep Karebear," Jack said, making a motion as if to leave her body.
"Uh-uh poodle," Karen said, holding him on top of her. "We're sleeping like this tonight."
"Sure thing Mrs. McFarland," Jack said in a mock serious tone of voice.
Karen giggled and then pulled his lips to hers yet again.
"Night Kare," Jack said a few minutes later when they pulled away to breathe. "Sweet dreams."
"Same to you honey," Karen said as she held Jack's head to her breast. She stroked his hair again with one hand and then closed her eyes, falling asleep at the same time as Jack did.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Really Love You
On a Saturday morning in the middle of November, Karen was awakened by someone shaking her arm. Without opening her eyes, she turned over and snuggled up closer to Jack. When she realized that it wasn't Jack who was shaking her arm, Karen's eyes opened wide. She turned her head and saw that it had been Elizabeth who had been shaking her arm. "Ebie?" she said tiredly.
"I had bad dream Mama," Elizabeth said, tears running down her cheeks.
"Come here honey," Karen said, smiling. She turned to her daughter and then helped her up on the bed. "Tell me what your dream was about Ebie," she said as she settled Elizabeth in between her and Jack.
With a sniffle, Elizabeth put her arms around Karen's neck and proceeded to tell her about the nightmare she had just had.
Jack heard the voices talking low as they were cutting into his sleep. With a sigh, he reached over to grab Karen when he touched a small hand. "Oh my god, Kare, you shrunk!" he said, opening his eyes.
"It's me Daddy!" Elizabeth said giggling as she turned to her father and kissed his check.
"Oh thank god, I was so scared that you had shrunk or something Kare," Jack said with a grin, looking over at his wife.
"Thank you poodle," Karen said wryly. She sat up and then leaned over, kissing Jack's cheek softly.
As Karen left the bed, Jack said, "Where are you going?"
"To get our other daughter," Karen said as she started to walk out of the room. "Remember honey, we've got two of them."
Jack laughed as she left and then he sat up, leaning against the headboard. "So little one, why did you come to our bed?" he asked, picking Elizabeth up.
"Bad dream," Elizabeth said simply as she rested her head on her father's shoulder.
"Aw, well it's okay now Ebie," Jack said, kissing the top of her head. "You know what?"
"What Daddy?" Elizabeth asked, looking up at her father.
"I'm gonna take you, your sister and your mom out someplace nice today," Jack said, smiling down at her.
"Can we go see bears?" Elizabeth said hopefully.
"Oh honey, no, not the zoo," Karen said as she walked into the room, Sophia in her arms.
"No?" Elizabeth said as her mother sat down next to Jack on the bed.
"Maybe your daddy can take you and Sophie this week while I'm at work," Karen said.
Elizabeth started to sniffle again and she pouted her lips, looking at her mother.
"Ebie... oh alright, alright, we'll go to the zoo!" Karen said in exasperation. "I just can't say no to those eyes and that pouting."
"She got that down pretty quickly," Jack said with a small laugh. "And that's 'cause she learned from the best."
Karen laughed and then kissed Jack on the lips softly. "When we come back from the zoo, it's just you and me for two hours," she whispered in his ear.
"Sure," Jack said quickly, smiling. He set Elizabeth down on the mattress and then took Sophia from Karen. "Good morning sweetie," he said, kissing her forehead.
"Can we go now?" Elizabeth said after her parents had been quiet for about ten minutes.
"It's only ten o'clock Ebie," Karen said, pulling their daughter onto her lap. "We'll go in an hour or so."
~~~
Karen and Jack walked down a path of Central Park with their daughters. They were heading for the zoo and Elizabeth was obviously excited.
"What do you want to go see first?" Jack said, looking down at Elizabeth who was walking next to him, holding his hand tightly.
"Bears Daddy," Elizabeth said eagerly. "Wanna go see bears."
"We will Ebie," Jack said, smiling. "Anything you want to see Kare?"
"A nice martini," Karen said, rolling her eyes. She shifted Sophia to her other arm and looked at her husband. When she saw that Jack was looking at her strangely, she then said, "I'm joking poodle; I just want to get this over with as fast as we can so we can go home."
"Don't worry Kare," Jack said as they walked into the zoo after buying tickets. "I want to make this fast too."
Together they walked through the zoo, going over to the bears first for Elizabeth to see. When they got to the cage, there were a surprising amount of people looking at the polar bears.
"Here Ebie," Jack said, lifting her up into his arms. "Can you see now?"
"No Daddy," Elizabeth said a little angrily, trying to crane her neck over the heads of the people in front of her.
Jack smiled and then placed Elizabeth on his shoulder; holding her there securely so she wouldn't fall off.
Karen was watching her daughter looking at the polar bears in excitement, and she laughed. She was going to say something to Jack when two hands came around and covered her eyes.
"Guess who?" a familiar voice asked.
Using her free hand, Karen lifted one of the hands off her eye and then turned around. "Hi Kath, you guys are here too?" she said, smiling at her sister.
"Yeah, the kids got their report cards yesterday, and since they both did so well, we decided to bring them here to celebrate," Katherine said as Edward and then their children walked up behind her.
"Hey Sister Katherine, Eddie," Jack said as he turned around, taking Elizabeth down from his shoulder. "Want to join us?"
"Can we Mummy?" Amber said, asking Katherine.
"Alright, but only until we have to leave for the movies," Katherine said, smiling and then taking her daughter's hand.
The group set off and walked through the rest of the zoo, looking at all the animals and then stopping for a brief lunch at a deli across the street from Central Park when they had left.
"Thanks for letting us accompany you guys Kare," Katherine said as she and her family walked Karen and Jack and their daughters to the limo.
"Kath, I wanted to ask, how are you doing?" Karen asked as Jack took Sophia and Elizabeth into the limo.
"I'm okay," Katherine said, knowing her sister was talking about. "Not cutting myself anymore."
Karen looked at her sister with a slightly doubtful look on her face. "I hope you're telling me the truth Kath," she said, squeezing her sister's hand gently.
"I am Kare," Katherine said.
With a smile, Karen waved goodbye to Edward and her niece and nephew before she got into the back of the limo with Jack. "She's lying," she commented as the limo started down the street.
"Who's lying?" Jack asked as Elizabeth went over to Karen and sat next to her.
"Kath, I asked her how she's been doing," Karen explained. "She said she's not cutting herself, but I can tell she lied to me."
Jack sighed and then put an arm around Karen's shoulder. "She's been seeing her psychiatrist again right?" he asked.
"Yeah, but I wonder if that helps her at all," Karen said, looking up at Jack. "I have a bad feeling that she's not going to stop until she's taken her own life poodle, and I'm so scared." With that, tears started to fall down her cheeks slowly and she buried her face in Jack's chest.
Holding his wife as she cried softly, Jack sighed and glanced over at their daughters. "Kare," he whispered. "Look."
Sniffling, Karen moved back slightly from Jack and then wiped the tears from her eyes. She turned her head and was surprised to see that Elizabeth and Sophia were lying out on the seat across from Jack and Karen, asleep. "That's so sweet," she said, smiling. She turned back to Jack and then hugged him tightly. "Thank you poodle," she whispered into his ear.
"I didn't do anything Kare," Jack said softly. "Kare, do you still want to make love when we get back?" he whispered to her.
"Do you want to?" Karen responded, looking at him. When he nodded, she brought his lips down to hers and kissed him deeply. "Then we will Jackie," she said when they had pulled back, both of them breathless.
~~~
Back at the penthouse, Jack, with Rosario's help, put Sophia and Elizabeth in their rooms for an afternoon nap.
Karen went up to hers and Jack's bedroom, ordered by Jack to go straight over there and wait for him to come so she could get a little rest. She unfastened her high-heeled shoes and threw them under the window. She got on top of the comforter and lay on her back, looking up at the ceiling.
Jack walked into the bedroom and closed the door, locking it firmly. He went over to the bed and sat on the edge next to Karen. "You know, maybe you should talk to Kat about how you feel," he said, taking her hand. He brought the palm up to his lips and then kissed it gently a few times.
"She won't listen to me," Karen said, closing her eyes. "She never does."
"I wish I could help you more with her Kare, I really do," Jack said, looking sad.
"Oh honey, you do enough just helping me through this," Karen said, sitting up. "Just don't leave me Jackie; I don't think I could go through this without your help."
"I won't Kare, I promise," Jack said, holding her tightly to him. He pulled away from her slightly and he kissed her lips gently.
Karen deepened the kiss, pushing her tongue gently into Jack's mouth as she clutched at his shoulders. "Oh Jackie, I love you so much," she whispered as they pulled apart and then got down on the mattress.
"I love you too Karebear," Jack said, pushing her hair back and kissing her neck softly. As he was doing that, he slid his hand up from her leg, where it had been resting, up until he slipped it under her blouse.
Gasping lightly and throwing her head back on the pillow, Karen grabbed onto Jack's arm before his hand could reach her bra under her blouse. "Wait Jackie," she said. She let go of him arm and then started to unbutton her shirt.
Jack helped her take off the shirt and then leaned forward, resting his head above her breasts.
"What are you doing honey?" Karen asked, stroking his hair.
"Listening to your heartbeat," Jack said immediately. He turned his head and then kissed the skin above her heart. Then he lifted his head and helped Karen remove her bra.
"Jackie," Karen said a few minutes later, as he was kissing her breasts. "Make love to me now, no teasing."
"Are you sure?" Jack asked, looking up at her.
When Karen responded yes, she helped Jack remove his clothes and then took off hers. She pulled his body on top of hers and then helped him enter her with his member. "I love you Jackie," Karen whispered as he started to thrust in and out of her slowly.
"Hmm, I love you too Kare," Jack said before he pressed his lips down to hers firmly.
As he kissed her neck again, Karen held on to Jack's neck tightly, moaning every time Jack would thrust back into her. When she felt that she was nearing the edge, she pulled Jack's lips up to hers for another passionate kiss. A few minutes later, she broke away from him and then arched her body up as she climaxed, calling out his name.
Jack pumped in and out of Karen one last time before he too climaxed, pressing his cheek next to hers. When he was sated, he let his body rest on top of Karen's.
"Thank you Jackie," Karen said as she ran her fingers through his slightly damp hair.
"No problem," Jack answered, still a little breathless. "You know Kare," he said a few minutes later, lifting his head up from her breasts. "Anytime you want to go again..."
"How about now?" Karen asked, squeezing her legs together.
"Oooh," Jack groaned as he felt himself growing aroused again. "Now is a very good time." With that, he started to thrust in and out of her, this time slowly so he and Karen could kiss.
"Are you going to go faster?" Karen asked in between kisses. She was running her hands up and down his back, almost massaging it.
"I don't want to," Jack said before he gave her a deep kiss. "We can go faster later on."
Karen closed her eyes, concentrating on meeting Jack's body with her own every time he thrust into her. A few minutes later, she felt him lift up off her body slightly. She didn't think anything of it, until she felt his fingers lightly brush her stomach as he made his way down. She opened her eyes wide and looked up at him in slight surprise as he started to stroke her quickly. "Jackie... oh fuck!" she moaned as she suddenly climaxed around him.
"God Kare... I love you," Jack said a second later into her ear huskily as he achieved him release.
"I love you too," Karen said, looking at him lovingly as they were recovering several minutes later.
~~~
At five o'clock, Jack and Karen walked out of their bathroom after just having had a shower together. They had changed into their pajamas and got underneath the covers as Jack picked up the phone on the nightstand.
While he was talking to Rosario about getting their dinner, Karen kissed his cheek and then got off the bed. She went to Elizabeth's room and took her out of the bed. "You're going to eat with your daddy and me in our room tonight," Karen explained as she changed Elizabeth into her pajamas.
"Why?" the little girl asked curiously as Karen set her on the floor.
"Don't you want to have dinner with me and Daddy?" Karen asked, pretending to be hurt.
"Yes Mamma, I sorry!" Elizabeth hurriedly, hugging her mother around her legs.
"Good, go on to our room and tell your daddy that I'm going to get Sophie," Karen said as she and Elizabeth walked out of the room. While the little girl was going over to Jack and hers bedroom, Karen went to Sophia's room.
The baby was standing up in her crib and she cried out in happiness when she saw Karen. "Mama!" she said, letting go of the teddy bear in her hand.
"Sophie, come on honey, let's go have dinner," Karen said, taking her daughter out of the crib. When she walked into the bedroom, she saw that Jack and Elizabeth were sitting on a blanket that was spread out in front of the fireplace which had a fire burning in it.
"I didn't know if you wanted to do this, but I had Rosario make us sandwiches," Jack said as Karen sat down on the blanket next to him. "I wanted to have a little picnic."
"This is a good idea poodle," Karen said, kissing Jack's cheek. She set Sophia down on the blanket and watched as the baby stood up and walked over to her sister.
"I'm so glad they're getting along so well," Jack said as he stopped Elizabeth from letting Sophia have a bite of her sandwich. "Don't give her that little one."
"Why Daddy?" Elizabeth asked, peering up at her father.
"It's not good for her now," Jack said. He then reached over and grabbed a sandwich from the plate Rosario had brought up. "You can give this one to your sister."
Elizabeth nodded solemnly and then gave the sandwich, which was peanut butter and jelly, to Sophia.
Karen smiled as she watched their daughters eat and leaned her head on Jack's shoulder, sighing contentedly.
"This is really nice huh?" Jack said, putting his arm around her waist.
"Yes," Karen said, smiling at Elizabeth and Sophia. "I never thought I'd be so happy in a situation like this."
"Oh I know what you mean Kare," Jack said quickly with a grin on his face. He kissed the top of her head and then the two of them continued eating their sandwiches.
~~~
That night, Karen was putting Sophia in her crib when Jack came into the room.
"Are you done yet?" he asked, putting his arms around Karen's waist.
"Hold on poodle," Karen said, covering the baby with a blanket.
"Yeah, real easy to wait for you Kare," Jack said. He pressed his body up against hers and grinned when she gasped. "See?"
"Okay, okay," Karen said shifting slightly against the obvious bulge in Jack's trousers. "Let's go before you explode honey," she said, taking Jack's hand and leading him out of the room.
As soon as Jack had closed their bedroom door behind them, he whirled Karen back and then pressed her against the door. He kissed her roughly, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth, making it swollen.
Karen groaned lightly, letting herself lose control and getting lost in the kiss. After a few minutes, she pulled away from him to breathe and remember what she had wanted to do to him. "Come here Jackie," she said seductively, motioning with her finger. She slipped away from him and then walked over to the bed.
Smiling, Jack hurried over to the bed as Karen was laying down on it. He had intended to just make love to her right away without even bother to take their clothes off, but she had other plans.
"Not so fast," Karen said as she straddled Jack's groin. She reached down and unbuttoned his pajama top, deliberately wriggling around, making him groan loudly in lust and desire.
"And you think I'm a bad tease?" Jack said as Karen got off of him. He sat up and took off his shirt while she removed his trousers.
"I always give you a chance for release, don't I Jackie?" Karen asked, a small smile on her face and her head titled to the side. Without waiting for an answer, she knelt down and took his member into her mouth.
Gritting his teeth together, Jack reached out and took a handful of the bed sheets in his hand, clutching them tightly as Karen worked her mouth up and down his shaft. After about ten minutes, his other hand clenched into a fist and he groaned out his release.
"See, I'm not so mean," Karen said as she sat up. She then went over to her nightstand and then took out their book from the cabinet part.
"I don't want to use that tonight Kare," Jack said, coming up behind her. "I want to look at you while I'm fucking you."
Those words made a shiver of pleasure pass through Karen's body and she returned the book back to the nightstand. She turned to face him and said, "Okay, then knock yourself out poodle."
Jack smiled broadly, pulling Karen to him as he kissed her deeply. He was going to take off her nightgown when he got an idea. "I love you Kare," he mumbled as he settled her on his member.
"Wait... Jackie," Karen breathed as he made her move up and down on him. "Let me take this off o-"
"No Kare, leave it on," Jack said as he moved his hands to her ass.
Karen nodded, too focused on the pleasure she was feeling to really care about the nightgown.
After a few minutes, Jack reached up with one hand and slid one of the straps off of Karen's shoulder, exposing her breast to him. He immediately descended on it, enveloping the nipple with his mouth and dragging his tongue over it.
"Oh Jackie," Karen cried out, feeling incredibly erotic. She placed her hands around his head and moaned as he moved over to free the other breast.
After they had been making love for a very long time, Jack thrust up into Karen's body roughly, and they both went crashing over the edge.
"Oh my god Jackie, JACK, JACK!" Karen kept screaming over and over as she climaxed around him.
"Jesus Kare... you're s-so tight around me," Jack moaned at the start of his orgasm. Then his hands tightened on Karen's ass and he yelled, "Oooh fuck... KARE!"
Karen closed her eyes tightly and then slumped against her husband's chest when they were both sated. Breathing hard, she said, "I love you honey."
"Kare... I love you too," Jack said with a smile on his face. He titled Karen's head up so she was looking at him, and then he kissed her deeply.
~~~
Two days later, Monday, Karen and Katherine were at Grace's office, even though Grace herself wasn't there.
"Tell me why we came here since Grace didn't?" Karen asked, standing next to her sister. She had gotten bored with her magazines and didn't want to change her nail polish since Jack liked the color she had on so much. So she had decided to watch her sister at work, which she had never really done before.
"I need to get a lot of work done," Katherine said. "And you didn't have to come if you really didn't want to Kare."
"I don't like the idea of you being alone," Karen said, putting her hand on Katherine's shoulder.
"Ouch!" Katherine cried, moving away from Karen.
"What the hell did I do?" Karen asked in surprise.
Rubbing her shoulder lightly, Katherine shook her head. "I just got a bit of a bruise there," she said.
"Edward didn't do that I hope," Karen said, running her fingers through her sister's loose hair.
"Of course not!" Katherine said in surprise. "It was just an accident."
"Kath, honey, I wanted to talk to you about something," Karen said, making her sister turn in her chair to face her.
"Well, I hope it's quick, because I need to get some fabric-" Katherine started to say.
"I don't want you to do this to yourself again," Karen said as she started to unbutton her sister's blouse.
"What are you doing?" Katherine asked, surprised.
"Don't worry, I won't have sex with you are anything," Karen said. She took Katherine's right arm out of the sleeve and saw the skin on her shoulder; red scratches signifying new cuts and white raised lines signifying old ones. "Shit," she said, staring down.
"Kare, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" Katherine yelled angrily, getting out of her chair and walking away from her sister.
"I wanted to see if you were cutting yourself again, and I was right," Karen said, looking sad and worried.
"But you should know you're not alone in that Mrs. O'Neill," a voice said from the doorway.
Katherine and Karen turned to see a young woman with light brown hair and green eyes watching them.
"Who are you?" Katherine asked as she buttoned her blouse. She thought those green eyes looked incredibly familiar to her.
"Norah Stiles right?" Karen asked the woman. When Norah nodded, she then said, "What are you doing here?"
"Wait, Stiles?" Katherine said, confused. "You're Christopher's sister then."
"I am," Norah said, nodding slightly again.
"Why did you come here? Is, is something wrong with Christopher?" Katherine asked in a worried tone of voice.
"It's about my brother," Norah said, sighing. "Mrs. O'Neill-"
"Katherine if you please," she said, interrupting Norah.
"You have to go and talk with my brother. He's been a wreck ever since he got home from Boston," Norah said, her eyes tearing up.
"Is he hurting himself?" Karen asked, remembering what Norah had said when she walked into the office.
"I have a strong suspicion," Norah said, looking down at the floor. "I've been noticing knifes and razor with blood on them all over his apartment when I visit him." She then looked up at Katherine, and her voice took on a pleading tone. "Please Katherine; you need to go see him. If it's just to try and be friends again, anything so he doesn't kill himself."
Katherine was quiet and she looked down at her left arm, briefly touching her wrist. "Where does he live?" she asked, looking up at the two women standing in front of her. She saw her sister's expression and said, "I'll just go to speak with him, nothing else Kare."
"Oh thank you so much," Norah said, finally bursting into tears. She gave Katherine a piece of paper with the address of her brother's apartment and then hugged her tightly for a few minutes. "I know that everything will get better now."
~~~
Handing the cabbie the money for the trip, Katherine got out of the taxi and then closed the car door behind her. She looked up at the building and checked the address Norah had given her; it was the right place. She was let into the building and headed over to the front desk.
Inside his bedroom, Christopher Stiles was sitting on his bed, trying to will himself to get up and do something with himself. He didn't see any point in trying to do so, so he remained seated. He heard a knock on his door and glanced up. 'Probably Norah to bug you again,' he thought inside his mind. When the person continued to knock, he grew angry and stood up. "God damn it Norah, what the hell do you..." Christopher said as he opened the door to his apartment.
"Sorry Paul," Katherine said, her habit of using his middle name returning to her quickly.
"Emma, oh my god, I'm so sorry about that," Christopher said. "Please, come inside."
Katherine walked into the apartment and almost started to cry at what she saw. The place wasn't messy or anything, it was just completely dark. She herself had done this in the bathroom whenever she was about to cut herself and she realized that Norah was right about her brother.
"What are you doing here?" Christopher asked as he led Katherine to the couch in the main room. "Do you want something to drink at all?"
"I'm fine Paul," Katherine said. She took a deep breath and then said, "I came here because I'd heard-"
"From Norah no doubt," Christopher interrupted.
"That you've been depressed ever since... Boston," Katherine said, nodding.
"Yeah, so what?" Christopher said brusquely. "Nothing you can do about that, you didn't want to go ahead with the affair."
"You're right, I didn't," Katherine said calmly. "But I thought we could be friends again."
Christopher laughed so hard at that, that tears of laughter ran down his face. "As much as I would love that, it's impossible," he said once he had calmed down.
"Why?" Katherine asked, surprised.
"I can barely stand the thought of your husband fucking you every night, touching your body now; how could I take it if we became friends again," Christopher said bitterly.
Katherine's cheeks became red and then she said, "Well I can't really do anything about that Paul. Maybe if you gave our friendship one chance, it could be different this time."
"One..." Christopher began to say. He suddenly was struck by an idea and he looked at Katherine with wide eyes. "Katherine, I can't be friends with you while you're married, I just can't do that."
"Then I guess I should go," Katherine said. She started to get up off the couch when Christopher stopped her, kneeling in front of her with his hands on her legs.
"I'd like for you to grant me one thing before I leave your life forever Emma," he said softly.
"What?" Katherine asked apprehensively.
"Give me one night with you Emma," Christopher pleaded. "Just one night for us to make love to each other."
"I-I don't know..." Katherine said, completely surprised by the request.
"Just one night," Christopher repeated, resting his head in her lap. "I want to know I've had you at least once; that you've had me too."
"Can I think about this?" Katherine asked.
Christopher moved away from her and said, "Go ahead, but please, don't take too long Emma."
"I'll try and decide as soon as I can Paul," Katherine said as she walked to the front door.
"Yes, if you take too long... I may already be dead," Christopher said as he closed the apartment door behind Katherine. He leaned his forehead against it and then slid down to the floor. He clasped his hands together and proceeded to do something he hadn't done since he was a child; pray.
~~~
Katherine walked to the front door of her penthouse, and paused with her hand on the doorknob. She could hear her husband's laughter from inside, and she felt racked with guilt all of a sudden. With a strangled, low cry, she turned and ran back to the elevators.
"Hey Kare," Jack called from Elizabeth's room. "What time does that movie start on TV tonight?"
"Which movie honey?" Karen asked as she walked into the room.
"Cat in the Hat," Jack said, handing Elizabeth to his wife. "I thought we were going to watch that with Ebie tonight."
"Did you bother to ask her if she wanted to see it?" Karen asked Jack saucily.
"Oh, no, hold on a sec," Jack said, pretending she was being serious. He knelt down so his face was even with Elizabeth's and then asked, "Want to watch 'Cat in the Hat' tonight with me and your mommy?"
Elizabeth nodded enthusiastically. Then she paused and asked, "Can Sophie watch?"
"No honey," Karen said, kissing her daughter's cheek. "She'll be asleep when we watch it." Seeing that her daughter looked a little unsure, she went on to say, "But that's okay Ebie, you guys will watch another movie together tomorrow, I promise."
A smile spreading across her face, Elizabeth giggled and then kissed Karen's cheek. "Go watch now Mama, Daddy!" she said happily.
"Karen, Jack, thank god you guys are here," a voice said from the doorway.
They turned and were surprised to see that it was Katherine.
"Kath... what's wrong," Karen asked, handing Elizabeth to Jack. She hurried over to her sister and took her hands.
"Oh god, oh god," Katherine said, bursting into tears. "I don't know what to do Kare, I just don't know." She then stepped forward and hugged Karen, burying her face on her sister's shoulder.
"Kare, take her to the living room," Jack whispered. He followed them out and when they went to the living room, he went to Rosario's room.
"Oh no, what does Miss Karen want now?" Rosario asked, rolling her eyes.
"Just watch Ebie for us Rosario," Jack said curtly, placing the little girl on the maid's bed.
"What's wrong Mister Jack?" Rosario asked, instantly worried.
Jack didn't answer her though and walked back to the living room. He was surprised to see that Karen and Katherine were walking in from the direction of the dining room.
"Help me poodle," Karen said when she spotted him. "Kath threw up and she's very weak."
Hurrying over to them, Jack took Katherine from his wife and led her to the couch.
"Do you want me to get you a washcloth?" Karen asked her sister worriedly.
Katherine grabbed her hand to keep her for leaving. "Just stay, please," she rasped.
"What happened," Jack asked as he and Karen sat together on the coffee table in front of the couch.
"I went to see Pa- Christopher," Katherine said, closing her eyes. "Norah was right Kare, he's cutting himself too."
"Oh no, Kath..." Karen said sadly, squeezing her sister's hand.
"I tried to ask him if we could be friends again, but...he refused," Katherine said. "And," she paused, her eyes filling up with tears. "And he begged for one night with me."
"You, did you agree to that?" Jack asked, picking up on what she meant immediately.
"No, I wanted to, but I thought I should think about it seriously first," Katherine said, her tears spilling from her eyes.
Karen leaned forward and rested her cheek against her sister's. "You know what I'm going to say Kath," she whispered. "Why did you come here to talk with us?"
"Because you're my sister," Katherine said, her breath hitching with sobs. "I have no one else to turn to but the two of you."
"Do you want our opinion about this?" Jack said as he took Katherine's other hand.
"Yes, not that I'll necessarily do what you say though," Katherine said softly.
"I don't think you should, you'd really hurt Eddie more with a one night stand than an affair," Jack said.
"I'm with him honey," Karen said, kissing Katherine's forehead softly. "You know that you love Eddie very much and it would kill him when he found out."
"Don't you mean if," Katherine said, looking at her sister.
"How would you be able to pull it off without him finding out?" Karen asked. "You guys are together a lot."
Katherine sighed and then sat up slowly. "I still need to think about this," she said, squeezing Jack's hand and then Karen's before she let go of them. "I'm sorry I bothered you guys."
"No you didn't," Jack said easily as he helped her stand up. "We're family and family members help each other when they need it."
"You've married a great man," Katherine said with a small smile to her sister.
"I know Kath, I know," Karen said, kissing Jack's cheek softly. "Call me if you need anything later okay honey?" she said as she hugged her sister when they got to the front door.
"I will," Katherine said. "Bye."
When Jack had closed the door behind her, he turned to look at Karen. "I'm so sorry Kare," he said as he took her into his arms.
"I don't know why this had to happen," Karen said sadly. "Just when everything was going so well."
"Kat will do the right thing," Jack said, sounding unsure.
"I doubt it poodle," Karen said with a short laugh. She let go of Jack and then said, "Where's Ebie, I want to hold her in my arms right now."
"I left her with Rosario," Jack said. "I'll get her for you." And with that, he went towards the back of the penthouse to fetch their daughter.
~~~
After a family dinner, Katherine went to the living room and sat down at her piano, ready to think seriously about her problem.
"Are you going to play some songs for us Ma?" Patrick asked eagerly as he, Amber and then Edward gathered on the couch behind her.
"Yes Patrick, I am," Katherine said softly. She placed her fingers on the keys and played the scale for a few times.
"You guys should be quiet," Amber said importantly to her father and brother.
"Why?" Patrick asked.
"She's playing so she can think," Amber responded.
Katherine took a deep breath and then started to sing.
I'm not afraid of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me that I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find a decent melody
A song that I can sing in my own company
I never thought you were a fool
But darling, look at you
You gotta stand up straight, carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere, baby
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better now you're stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it
I will not forsake, the colours that you bring
But the nights you filled with fireworks
They left you with nothing
I am still enchanted by the light you brought to me
I still listen through your ears, and through your eyes I can see
And you are such a fool
To worry like you do
I know its tough, and you can never get enough
Of what you don't really need now... my oh my
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it
Oh love look at you now
You've got yourself stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it
I was unconscious half asleep
The water is till you discover how deep...
I wasn't jumping... for me it was a fall
It's a long way down to nothing at all
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment and now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better now
You're stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it
And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if your way should falter
Along the stony pass
It's just a moment
This time will pass
After waiting a few minutes, Edward spoke. "That was wonderful, Katy. I forgot to mention something at dinner earlier to you all though."
"What?" Katherine said, not moving at all.
"I need to go to England the day after Thanksgiving for a week," Edward said, sounding sad.
Katherine closed her eyes and she came to a decision about what she was going to do. "It's alright James," she said softly as she got off the piano bench. "It's only a week after all."
"Where are you going Mummy?" Amber asked.
"I need to make a couple of phone calls," Katherine said as she left the room.
~~~
Jack and Karen were in the media room, watching 'The Cat in the Hat' with Elizabeth, when the phone rang.
"I'll get it Kare," Jack said before his wife could answer the phone. "McFarland residence, Jack McFarland here."
"Jackie-boy, it's me," Katherine said on the other end. "Listen," she then said before he could respond. "Tell Kare that I've decide what I'm going to do..."
A few minutes later, Jack hung up the phone and Karen immediately questioned him. "Never mind Kare, we'll talk about that later," he said.
Karen was dying from curiosity about the phone call, but she kept quiet so that her daughter could watch the rest of the movie.
Later that night, Jack took Elizabeth and put her to bed so Karen could change into her pajamas. He put their daughter in her bed and covered her with the sheets. "Night little one," he said softly, kissing her cheek.
Karen put on her red silk night gown before going out to the bed and getting on top of the comforter. As soon as Jack walked in and closed the door, she asked, "Who called earlier?"
Jack sighed and walked to the bed, standing in front of it. "It was Kat," he began. "She told me that she decided what to do about Christopher."
"And?" Karen asked anxiously.
"She told me Eddie's going to England for a week after Thanksgiving," Jack said. "She's going to go ahead and do it then."
"No!" Karen suddenly screamed, covering her face with her hands. "Oh god, why?"
"Kare, she said for me to tell you that she's doing this so Christopher doesn't become so depressed that he'll kill himself," Jack said, going over to her on the bed quickly.
"Oh god," Karen repeated, hugging Jack. "I hate that man, I hate him!"
"Kare..." Jack said slowly at first. He couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous at all the concern she was showing towards Edward.
"I've been friends with Eddie for a long time," Karen said in explanation. "I hate to see him hurt."
"Maybe he won't find out about this," Jack said gently, rubbing his hand up and down Karen's back.
"Damn it," Karen muttered angrily. Then she sighed and turned to her husband, the anger gone from her eyes. "Jackie, can you help me forget about this for now?"
"Is that a good idea?" Jack said, looking hesitant.
"I need to honey," Karen said, sighing as she started to undress him. "I was going to anyway before the phone call."
Jack nodded and then helped Karen take off her nightgown. "It seems like a waste sometimes when you wear this one," he commented as they both turned their minds from Katherine and towards their love making.
"Why?" Karen asked and she giggled at Jack's surprised looked when he saw she was naked under the nightgown.
"I hate to take it off sometimes," Jack said, staring at her breasts and then running his fingers over her left one. "You know you look so damn sexy in red."
"Oh honey, I know," Karen said knowingly, smiling as she ran her fingers over his member. When Jack groaned again, she took his shaft in her hand and started to run it up and down.
"Wait, not right now Kare," Jack said, shuddering pleasurably.
"Shut up poodle," Karen said in a gentle tone of voice. She continued to move her hand up and down his member for a few more minutes. Then she moved and enveloped him in her mouth.
"Gooood idea Kare," Jack moaned as he watched her pleasuring him. Ten minutes passed, and he tangled his fingers in her hair as he achieved his relief, unknowingly thrusting his hips up.
"Some one was too eager tonight," Karen said as she sat back up a few minutes later. She licked her lips and cleaned off the rest of Jack's release. "I thought you were going to choke me Jackie."
"Oh no... I didn't hurt you did I?" Jack asked worriedly, still glowing from the pleasuring session.
"No honey, just take it easier next time I do that," Karen said, patting his member lightly.
"Kare," Jack said gently, looking up and down her body. "I see something on your thigh, let me look."
Glancing down, Karen didn't see anything and she got what Jack was doing. "Yeah, you better Jackie," she said, lying back on the mattress.
Jack spread her legs apart as he settled down, hovering above her legs. "Hmm, well I don't see anything, but... there could be something up here," he said, trying not to giggle.
"Oh honey, I feel something," Karen suddenly said. "It hurts a little bit."
"Where?" Jack asked quickly.
"Here," Karen said, her voice becoming husky. She moved her fingers down and brushed them against her entrance.
Moving her fingers away gently, Jack lowered his head and then flicked out his tongue, barely brushing against her sex.
"Ugh! Jackie, no teasing!" Karen said after moaning loudly.
"Anything you want Karebear," Jack murmured. He then proceeded to pleasure her, using his tongue and then his fingers as well.
"Ooo, oh Jackie!" Karen cried out, arching her body up to his mouth as she reached her peak. When she was sated a few minutes later, she sat up and pulled Jack to sit up too. "Thank you poodle, that was wonderful," she said before she pulled him into a deep kiss.
Without even asking if she was ready, Jack settled her on his lap, her legs spread apart. He felt Karen gasp while they were kissing, and he entered her slowly with his member which had become erect as he had pleasured her.
"Poodle, let me lay down this time," Karen said as he held her hips, making her move up and down on his member.
Jack nodded and then moved around so she was lying down on a pillow. He ran his hand up and down her leg as he thrust in and out of her quickly.
Karen opened her eyes at the feel of Jack's hand on her leg and then she shifted her leg up, draping it over his shoulder.
"Whoa, Kare," Jack moaned, feeling his member slide into her body deeper. He moaned a little more loudly and then started to move quickly.
"Hmm, oh honey, yess," Karen moaned closing her eyes and putting her arms around his neck.
"I... I love you Karen McFarland," Jack grunted a long time later as he felt that he was reaching the edge.
Crying out in ecstasy, Karen lifted her head and screamed, "Oh Jackie, oooh fuck... faster." When he did so, she finally climaxed, again and again, and shrieked, "Yess oh poodle, yess JACKIE!"
"K-Kare, oh my god..." Jack said as he felt her orgasm repeatedly around him. He thrust in one more time and then yelled, "Ugh, Jesus... KARE!" as he climaxed in her over and over. When he was sated, he let his body fall on top of hers, Karen's leg slipping off his body.
"Thank you so much Jackie," Karen said, stroking Jack's sweaty hair and then his back.
"Kare, I love you very, very deeply," Jack whispered, running his finger on her breast.
"Oh honey, I love you so much too," Karen answered, lifting his head up so they could kiss passionately.
"Let's get a little sleep Karebear," Jack said, making a motion as if to leave her body.
"Uh-uh poodle," Karen said, holding him on top of her. "We're sleeping like this tonight."
"Sure thing Mrs. McFarland," Jack said in a mock serious tone of voice.
Karen giggled and then pulled his lips to hers yet again.
"Night Kare," Jack said a few minutes later when they pulled away to breathe. "Sweet dreams."
"Same to you honey," Karen said as she held Jack's head to her breast. She stroked his hair again with one hand and then closed her eyes, falling asleep at the same time as Jack did.