Does True Love Last A Lifetime?

A Love Actually, Karen and Harry sequel. By Sunny

Beta read by the most wonderful Jesse. Thanks for helping with my first ever fanfic. You are the best.

Chapter One - Departures and Arrivals

Harry was a 44 year old businessman; good looking, tall and lean with dark blond hair, and hazel eyes over which he wore stylish glasses. He was quite a serious man but with hidden places. Harry was sitting straight-backed in an airplane seat looking over a signed contract for an obscenely large dollar amount. His three week long business trip to San Francisco and New York had been extremely successful for his company, Fairtrade. Harry had obtained a three year contract to do all the advertising materials for the American company's new branch office in London.

He supposed he should be happy, but he was afraid that he would never be truly happy again. He had been a classic fool to allow his new secretary Mia, young and beautiful, fill his head with stimulating fantasies. She had played on his basic need to feel desirable again. He had known in the back of his mind that she was probably just trying to move up by moving in on the boss, but he had been caught up in her constant innuendo and had felt intoxicated being pursued by someone so beautiful and desirable. He had madly succumbed to her request to bring her something pretty for Christmas, going to the jewelry counter and buying the first necklace he saw, even though it cost £270. He had slipped the box containing the delicate heart necklace on Mia's desk, as he left work early on the afternoon of his children's Christmas concert. He didn't know if he would receive in return a gift or everything else that had been hinted at. Really, he didn't think he would have gone through with it. It was just exhilarating knowing that he could inspire that sort of offer. The necklace had been the biggest mistake in his life.

Karen had once told him that she loved Joni Mitchell because she was the woman who taught his cold English wife how to feel and that true love lasts a lifetime, but Harry wasn't sure that was true. Somehow Karen had found out about his gift and had confronted him after the Christmas concert. Harry would never forget the way she had looked so hurt when she asked him, "Tell me, if you were in my position, what would you do?"

Harry, clueless had asked, "What position is that?"

Karen continued, "Imagine your husband bought a gold necklace and, come Christmas, gave it to someone else?"

Harry had gone into total shock and his stomach had plummeted. He'd moaned, "Oh Karen."

Karen had bravely gone on, "Would you wait around to find out if it's just a necklace, or if it's sex and a necklace, or if worst of all, it's a necklace and love? Would you stay, knowing life will always be a little bit worse? Or would you cut and run?"

Harry had choked out, "Oh God. I am so in the wrong. A classic fool."

Karen had had tears welling in her eyes. "Yes, but you've also made a fool out of me. You've made the life I lead foolish, too."

At that moment their children, Bernie and Daisy, had come bounding in all excited about their play. Karen had immediately kicked into her mother role. She was so strong. Harry had stood rooted to the spot as he'd watched her with his children, devastated, wondering if he had lost his family forever with his foolishness.

The stewardess's voice broke his sad reminiscing. "We are arriving at Heathrow Airport. Please remain seated until the pilot turns off the fasten seatbelt sign." Harry swiped the tears from his eyes with his fingertips. He wondered if anyone would be there to meet him.

Harry came out of the arrivals gate pushing his luggage on a trolley. He looked around. There seemed to be no one there for him. He was dejected. Suddenly he heard Daisy yelling, "Dad, Dad". He smiled broadly and went to her. He picked her up in a bear hug. "Oh, God."

Daisy hugged back and asked, "Have you brought us any presents?"

Harry put her down and said, "As a matter of fact, I did."

Bernie was there holding a large sign that read "Welcome Home Dad." He said enthusiastically, "Thanks Dad."

Karen had been at the airport with Daisy and Bernie. She had helped them make the sign. Harry had been gone three weeks and the kids missed him terribly. Karen was 41 with short, light brown hair. While Harry was gone she had felt an oppressive sadness. What if this was going to be their life forever? Harry off somewhere maybe with Mia or someone, and her grief stricken with the children alone in their home. She had to pull herself together for the children, but she cried constantly when she was alone in their bed. She had confided in her brother David, the Prime Minister. He was so wonderful to talk to and he told her that he would support her in anything she needed. He even offered in a joking manner to have the SAS beat some sense into Harry's thick skull for not realizing what he could have thrown away. She had also poured her heart out to her best friend, Daniel. She had been his shoulder to cry on during the prolonged illness and eventual death of his beloved wife, Joanna. She had helped him become a good single step dad to Sam. Daniel had appreciated her friendship and was now in a relationship with a wonderful girl named Carol. So now he had become Karen's shoulder to cry on. She told him all about her fear of Harry being in love with Mia and possibly leaving them. She told him how she felt fat, undesirable, and stupid for just being a stay at home mom making papier-mâchélobster heads. Daniel helped her make some decisions about her life to make her feel better about herself.

Karen had put on her bravest face, smiling when she saw Harry come around the corner. Harry looked at Karen and hesitantly went to kiss her. She let him kiss her briefly. Harry questioned, "How are you?"

Karen answered with reserve, "I'm fine. I'm fine. Good to have you back."

She grabbed the children and said, "Come on, home."

Harry put his hand on her back but quickly dropped it as he felt her tense up. God, he hated the tension between them. They were putting on a show of being a happy family for Daisy and Bernie, but there was a deep rift between Harry and Karen that he couldn't seem to cross. He had tried being home more and helping with dinner and the children. Karen had thanked him but she never truly looked at him or let him near her. It was as if they were two strangers sharing a bed back to back each night.

Shortly after Harry and his family left Heathrow, there was a great commotion at the arrivals gate. Cameras started flashing and the Prime Minister came through surrounded by security people. The Prime Minister was an attractive 42 year old man with dark hair and a charming smile. He is also Karen's big brother, David. His new girlfriend of one month, Natalie, rushed through the crowd to hug him. She jumped up and threw her legs around his waist. David teased, "God, you weigh a lot."

Natalie joked back, "Oh, shut your face." Natalie was a lovely young bright faced girl with long dark hair, expressive eyes, and a bubbly personality. David and Natalie smiled and waved to the press and headed to his car.

Inside the car David looked at Natalie and said, "I wish that the whole world were as happy and in love as we are."

Natalie smiled lovingly up at him and questioned, "Are you talking about everyone or do your really mean your sister and her husband."

David replied, "Well, if it were everyone, my job would be a whole lot easier with everyone getting along, but right now I would settle for Karen and Harry working things out. They really are good for each other. I wish I could help them somehow."

Natalie said, "You said Karen just can't get over Harry's gift to that smooth talking neighbor of mine, Mia. Karen doesn't know how far their relationship went."

David replied, "Yes and my sister is trying to put on a brave face for everyone and not let anyone see how torn up she is. She said Harry told her nothing ever happened between him and Mia, but she can't be sure. She says she can't get the image of them dancing together at the Christmas party out of her mind. She said she knows Harry is trying to be more helpful around the house and with the children, but it's not enough to dispel her fears and hurt. Maybe he just feels guilty. She says Harry has apologized over and over but he keeps trying to act as if they are a happy family. She admits that she feels like a shrew, but she would feel better if Harry would just cry a little and show her that he is hurting as much as she is."

Natalie put her arms around David and leaned against his chest, "Maybe it was all a mistake; an odd moment in time. I know I felt like a prize idiot when the president of the United States made a pass at me, but nothing happened. I'm so glad you believed me."

David held her tight, "I should have known all along, but it really hurt because I really was falling in love with you already. That's all behind us now. I love you, Natalie."

Natalie sighed, "I love you too, David. Maybe you could talk to Harry alone and see if you can get him to open up to you."

David replied, "I'd do anything for Karen. I've known Harry for 15 years. I hope he'll feel he can talk openly to me. I'll try to clear some time on my schedule and see him down at Fairtrade. If I can get it all arranged, do you mind if we keep Daisy and Bernie Saturday night and Sunday to give Harry and Karen some alone time? Saturday night that American singer Jean Anderson is having a concert. I'll get tickets. I'm sure Bernie and Daisy would love to see her since her daughter Joanna goes to their school."

Natalie grinned up at him, "Oh David that is a lovely idea. I hope it works."