4. Freezing festivals and bitter memories

On the first day of winter Karen looked out of her window and saw that a thick blanket of snow had appeared overnight. She shivered and turned over in her warm bed, savouring the comforting heat then suddenly she found it too hot. She sniffed and sat up, her head was pounding. She strained her memory back to the night before and tried to remember if she had had any alcohol. She remembered that she hadn't and groaned. She looked in the mirror and stared at her awful reflection, it was definite… she had a cold. She sneezed and collapsed on her bed. After an hour her Mom came up to see why she hadn't come down.

"Karen, there are jobs to do, don't be lazy." Sasha said sounding frustrated.

Karen sneezed and then blew her nose and Sasha saw how pale her only daughter was.

"Momb I don' feelh tso good." Karen said in a nasal voice. Sasha put her hand on Karen's forehead and felt her temperature.

"Oh Karen, you're ill and on the first day of winter. You have a fever, how unfortunate." Sasha said sounding a little amused. "Bad luck Honey, you'll just have to stay in bed today." Karen groaned and blew her nose again. Sasha told Karen that she would take her to the doctors for a check-up, although it was probably just a common cold. Then went out to run some "errands" or in other words, gossip about Karen's cold. When she came back she took Karen to the hospital which was thankfully right next door. They entered the waiting room and Karen spotted Rick.

"Hey Karen what's up?" Rick asked looking slightly worried. Karen was going to point out that if she knew that why would she be at the doctors in her pyjamas but decided against it.

"I fink I've got ha cold." She said in a nasal voice and Rick nodded sympathetically. Elli handed him some medicine and he left promising Karen he'd visit her later.

"Oh goodie." Karen muttered under her breath. She watched Elli and Doctor collect the equipment and noticed they seemed extra close lately. Elli kept blushing every time the Doctor "accidentally" touched her hand. Karen thought about the blue feather and finally realized who it was for. "The cold has its advantages" She thought watching them. The Doctor examined her and made her open and mouth and say "ah". Finally he came to the conclusion that she had… a common cold... shocking. While he went to fetch her some antibiotics and Sasha went to pay him she decided to ask Elli about her relationship with the Doctor.

"Elli, are you and the Doctor… together?" Karen whispered. Elli blushed and looked at the floor. She was an incredibly shy girl, so ladylike and it obviously embarrassed to think about relationships. Well some call it ladylike, others just call it frigid.

"Yes, it's true, we're a couple. I think we may even… get married." Elli said excitedly. She blushed and looked lovingly at the Doctor.

"Yeah I think you will." Karen said grinning knowingly. Elli smiled happily. Karen sighed, happy for her friend and for learning a little bit of gossip, something she had inherited off her mother, knowing the secret of the blue feather had certainly made her feel a bit better. Then the Doctor came back and handed Karen some antibiotics and some Bodigiser.

"The bodigiser will help you to recover quickly. Take the antibiotics twice a day and drink plenty of fluids." The Doctor said handing Karen the medicine. She nodded gratefully and Sasha walked her home. After being tucked into bed and reading one of the more gruesome parts of Lord of the Flies she turned over to sleep. She was just drifting off when a giant hippo came to tell her she had a visit her. A chicken walked in and handed her some soup.

"It's chicken. I know I didn't used to like you having it but it'll help you recover." The chicken said. Karen put her hand to her head and took the soup feeling queasy.

"Is this one of your brothers, giant chicken?" She said watching as the room became a ball of rainbow lights swimming around.

"No it's me Rick. Are you hallucinating?" The chicken asked worriedly. Karen tried to focus on the chicken but couldn't concentrate so she reached for her medicine. She took a pill and the coloured lights grew brighter as her headache worsened.

"Urghh, the medication's making me hallucinate, Rick. Aren't you normally human?" Karen asked swaying as she sat up. The chicken helped her drink the soup and clucked which Karen guessed was perhaps a chuckle.

"Do you remember the last time you were ill? Actually we were both ill, I'd given you chicken pox." Rick laughed and Karen laughed at the irony.

"Yeah, we were both scratching and our parents bound our hands together to stop us scratching." She said laughing. Rick nodded and started to come into focus a little and look less chicken-like.

"We spend the whole day trying to untie ourselves. I kept apologizing to you for giving you chicken pox but you kept telling me it was okay. You said you would have got them sooner or later being around my chickens." Rick said smiling fondly.

"Yeah, but when you got over them faster than me I got angry saying you had stolen my health. I stayed mad at you for a week thinking I was never going to get well because of you. But finally I got over the chicken pox and had to apologize to you." Karen said laughing. Rick nodded and found Karen a box of tissues.

"I remember feeling so guilty because I thought I really had stolen your health." He said laughing happily. Karen nodded and blew her nose.

"You were so gullible then, you believed everything I said!" She said looking rather guilty.

"Yeah I know. But I always thought you were the cleverest, most beautiful person on earth. I trusted everything you said." Rick said. Karen nodded silently and looked away from Rick. She wondered if he was trying to break her heart.

"Remember when you convinced me that Mayor Thomas was an alien and was going to destroy us. I believed you and tried to find the source of his power." Rick said laughing.

"Yes. Then you thought that if you poured water over him he would melt. So you pushed him into the hot springs." Karen said laughing. Rick smiled and looked at the floor.

"Mayor Thomas thought it was funny but my Mom was so mad!" He said looking slightly guilty.

"My Mom was really mad for me tricking you. She grounded me for a week!" Karen said laughing. Rick nodded and laughed.

"But in the end we spent the week together and I really enjoyed spending time with you. I was so happy to have you as a best friend. To me you are and always have been… perfect." Rick said quietly. Karen watched as Rick leaned in closer, realizing what he was doing she jumped up.

"Well Rick, thanks for the visit. You better not stay or else you'll get my germs." She said hastily. Rick stood up too and shook his head.

"I really don't mind." He said quickly. Karen began to push him towards the door quickly.

"Yes but your mother couldn't do without your help. I really can't have your mother's health endangered because if me. Have a good day. Bye." She said laughing nervously. She pushed Rick out of the door and shut it behind her. She then collapsed in her bed with a sigh of relief. She wondered what Rick was doing… was he trying to break her and Jack up? Was that why he visited her? She took a sip of bodigiser and then turned over in her bed.

"Another visitor, dear!" Sasha called up the stairs. Karen hoped desperately that it wasn't Rick coming back and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Ann.

"Oh, thank God. It's just you Ann." Karen said sinking back into bed with relief.

"Umm, yeah. I brought you some of my special healing tonic." Ann said winking. Karen nodded slyly realizing it was a delicious hot toddy for her to drink.

"Brilliant Ann thanks!" Karen said grapping the drink and taking a sip. Ann smiled and watched Karen enjoy the drink.

"So who did you think it was?" Ann asked curiously. Karen looked angrily at the window and explained. Ann looked slightly shocked at Rick's behavior but sighed.

"Rick stupidly thinks you guys are gonna get back together." Ann said raising her eyebrows. Karen sighed and took a sip of "Ann's healing tonic".

"That's annoying, oh well hopefully he'll give up eventually." Karen said with a sigh.

"We can only hope. Oh by the way Popuri said she'd visit later and so did Jack, I'll tell Poe the story so you don't have to." Ann said. Karen grinned and nodded thankfully.

"Oh and Mary says get well soon and also that this'll give you a chance to finish the book. Sorry Karen, librarian's orders, read!" Ann said jokingly. Karen nodded dutifully and looked at the book.

"Only… half the book to go, I'll read some more later." Karen said glancing to the book on the side.

"Great. How's it going?" Ann asked, gesturing towards the book. Karen glanced at it and grimaced.

"It's a little gruesome. But it's actually pretty interesting, it's about these boys who get stranded on an island and try to form a community but end up killing each other!" Karen said sounding a little excited. Ann grinned and flicked through the book.

"Sounds like my kind of book!" She said. Karen laughed and told Ann to ask Mary if she could read it next.

"So how are you feeling?" Ann asked feeling her forehead. Karen shrugged and took a sip of her drink. Ann hastily took her hand away.

"Jeez, you're burning up." Ann said. Karen nodded calmly and felt her head.

"Is it flu?" Ann asked backing away a few feet.

"Doc says it's a cold but it could be flu. I blame the medicine for the fever and hallucinations." Karen said shrugging. Ann's face brightened up as she looked at the medicine.

"Wow, hallucinations! Are you hallucinating now?" She asked excitedly. Karen looked at Ann sarcastically.

"What do you think giant talking wine bottle?" She said. Ann laughed and put down the medicine.

"What's it like when you do hallucinate?" Ann asked. Karen shrugged and thought about the coloured lights and giant chicken.

"I started seeing rainbow colours all around and I saw my Mom as a giant hippo and Rick as a chicken." She said. Ann laughed and imagined Rick as a chicken.

"Cool, I'm taking me one of these tablets!" She said pouring a pill into her hand. Karen hastily took the pill from Ann.

"No, if you take a pill when you don't need it, it could be really harmful. Even though the hallucinations are cool you don't want to become a pill junkie okay?" Karen said putting the pill back Ann laughed and then sighed.

"Fine, I won't pursue the life of drugs and ruin my life. But you owe me!" Ann said jokingly. Karen laughed and hit Ann with her pillow.

"Good. Now if you don't mind I need to get some shuteye. I'm sick of you visitors so go away." Karen said jokingly. Ann laughed and hugged Karen goodbye. Karen then turned over and went to sleep, resting her head on a soft pillow.

She didn't know how long she had slept for, but when she woke up she saw Popuri leaning over her. Karen jumped in surprise and Popuri screamed.

"I'm sorry I didn't want to wake you!" Popuri squealed putting her hand on her beating heart.

"You scared me." Karen said breathing a sigh of relief. Popuri giggled cutely and handed her a tissue.

"Hey, um Karen, you might want to us this!" Popuri said. Karen accepted the tissue and blew her nose loudly. She grinned and looked at Popuri as if to say there-is-that-better. Popuri grinned and nodded then handed Karen a warm chocolate chip cookie.

"How did you know?" Karen asked happily taking a huge bite. She felt the chocolate chips stick to her mouth deliciously.

"Mmmm, Poe this must be the best cookie ever, you're a star cook!" Karen said her mouth full of cookie. Popuri smiled and raised her eyebrows. Karen knew she could make many sarcastic comments about Karen's cooking, but that just wasn't Popuri, partly because lacked the intellect.

"So you really like it?" Popuri asked eying the cookie critically. Karen swallowed the last cookie crumbs and licked her lips.

"Popuri, would I lie to you?" Karen said savouring the cookie crumbs on her lips. Popuri smiled and then handed Karen a whole basket of cookies.

"I was bored so I baked a whole batch for you to enjoy. Don't eat them all at once!" Popuri said waggling a finger and winking.

"No m'am." Karen said obediently while eying a cookie with a hungry expression on her face. Popuri giggled and gestured for her to have another. Karen grinned thankfully and helped herself to another.

"May I?" Popuri asked. Karen nodded quickly and handed her a cookie. Popuri ate hers hungrily and then helped herself to another. Popuri wasn't a pig but she sure had a sweet-tooth, Karen on the other hand, well… Karen helped herself to a third cookie and grinned at Popuri. They laughed and ate cookies for a while as Karen told Popuri about Elli and the Doctor.

"Oh wow, they are so perfect for each other!" Popuri exclaimed happily. Karen nodded in agreement.

"Yeah I know. But how are the other couples in town, to be honest I've been so caught up with myself that I haven't cared!" Karen said blushing guiltily. Popuri nodded understandingly and helped herself to some milk that Sasha had brought up in exchange for a cookie.

"Well let's see. There's Ann and Cliff, who are close but not close enough to marriage. Then there's me and Kai, well… I can only hope. Then there's Mary and Gray who are pretty much… non-existent… Then all alone now, there's Rick." Popuri said looking slightly sad at her brother's loneliness.

"But I still think he's a bit in love with you…" Popuri said. Karen snorted with some anger, in her opinion Rick should have just gotten over her.

"Yeah well… I'm not in that place and probably never will be." Karen said coldly. Popuri looked slightly taken aback by the chill in her voice.

"I'm not accusing you of anything you know." She said sounding upset. Karen smiled in apology and gave Popuri a reassuring hug.

"Oh I'm sorry, I know you're not. I'm just upset over what Rick did today…" She said sounding a little angry. Popuri gazed at her reassuringly.

"I know, Ann told me. He can be a jerk." She said, not bothering to stick up for her brother. Karen nodded and smiled weakly. Popuri glanced quickly at her watch and looked disappointed.

"Sorry Karen I have to go. If I stay out any longer Rick'll get mad." She said sounding annoyed.

"Oh, no problem. I'll just sit here in my solitude…" Karen said. Popuri looked sympathetic and gave Karen a goodbye hug. She then left leaving Karen alone with her thoughts. She began wondering whether life was more or less complicated outside of their island. Perhaps Mineral town was the closest thing to paradise. Kai had always said life was a lot more relaxing there and everything seemed to go slower. She began to drift off as she thought and she woke up the next day to a knock on her door.

"Hey, Karen!" Jack said walking into the room. Karen moaned and watched him walk over to her bed.

"Sorry I didn't come yesterday, I had to go and mine up some ores. But today I'm all yours!" He said gleefully sitting on her bed. Karen blinked and sat up.

"Okay, good. You can start by passing me my medication and that bodigiser!" She said gesturing to the pills and bottle of blue liquid.

"Right sure! Also I come bearing gifts!" He said as he offered her a bunch of white flowers. Karen grabbed them and sniffed them blushing.

"Oh Jack, where did you get these in the middle of winter?" She squealed happily. Jack grinned proudly at the flowers.

"They're snowdrops. I walked to the top of the mountain yesterday and thought they'd be perfect for you." He said obviously happy that Karen liked them. Karen got up to fetch a vase for them and smiled gratefully.

"They're so beautiful. Thank you Jack… I feel better now!" She said happily. Finally her nose was clear but she still felt a little shivery.

"Good, how long do think it'll be until you recover?" He asked.

"I'll probably be better by tomorrow… so if you spend all day with me it may boost my recovery!" Karen said slyly. Jack grinned and gave Karen a big hug and rubbed her back gently. The hug went on for a few minutes then she offered Jack one of Popuri's cookies and milk. Jack gladly accepted and munched his quickly barely chewing at all.

"So what have you been up to?" She asked grabbing a brush and running it through her tangled hair. She knew how terrible she must have looked, all pale and sweaty. Jack thought for a moment and helped himself to another cookie.

"Just the usual really. Taking care of animals and mining. No crops to plant in winter so I guess I'm slightly less busy." He said, obviously bored from the tedium of winter farming. "What about you?"

"Lying in bed mainly. Ann and Popuri visited me and also Rick." She said trying to sound indifferent.

"Rick visited… Was that awkward?" Jack asked sounding sorry for her and the teensiest bit jealous. Karen wondered whether to tell him or lie. She guessed that she had done nothing wrong and Jack seemed to trust her. She sighed and took a sip of milk.

"Well we started discussing when he gave me chicken pox as a child and to begin with it wasn't awkward. Then he started telling me things like "you're perfect"." She said putting on a nerdy voice at the point when Rick spoke. Jack nodded intently taking sips of milk.

"Then before I knew what was happening… he leaned in to kiss me. I pushed him away of course then threw him out." Karen said quickly. Jack chuckled and looked pretty amused. Karen felt confused at his lack of worry.

"Ha, I didn't think Rick would get over you." He said laughing. Karen gaped at him, he wasn't mad.

"Aren't you angry, or upset?" Karen asked. Jack looked blank and then shrugged.

"Nope. I trust you completely and to be honest I expected Rick to try this at some point…just not when you're sick! He must be desperate to try and get you back!" He said laughing. Karen didn't know what it was but she felt rather angry. She knew she should be happy that he trusted her but all she could think was that she wished he was angry. She wished he would run over to Rick's in a fit of fury, kick down the door and beat him up. Yet he was laughing and simply shrugging it off.

"So you're not mad at me or Rick in the least?" She asked scowling a little. He looked at her and cocked his head.

"Of course I'm not mad at you, it's not your fault. I'm maybe a little mad at Rick." He admitted and Karen breathed a sigh of relief. Jack hugged her and she snuggled against him feeling happy.

"Even if you had accidentally let him kiss you I wouldn't have been mad. Because I trust you and I know you'd never do anything to hurt me on purpose." He said softly. Karen smiled and a spark of happiness jolted in her stomach, he was the best boyfriend. She really wanted to kiss him then but she didn't want to give him her germs and so was satisfied with the hug.

"Can we go out to lunch when I'm feeling better?" Karen asked sweetly. Jack nodded happily and checked his watch. His stomach rumbled right on queue and he put his hand to his stomach.

"How about I go to the inn now and fetch us some lunch?" He asked standing up. Karen nodded gleefully as he walked out to fetch them some food. She hoped he knew what her favourite lunch special was, he'd probably ask Ann. Half an hour later he came back with their lunches, for her he had French fries and pizza and for himself a boxed lunch.

"I hope you like French fries..." He said feigning worry. She grinned and took her fries happily.

"I love 'em!" She said happily. Jack grinned and began to eat his box-lunch as she dipped her fries in some ketchup. They ate and talked for a while discussing the people of the village and the relationships.

"I think Mary does like Gray... but last I heard she had a huge crush on Kai!" Karen said. Jack's eyes widened and he grinned.

"On Kai! Poor Mary, that's never going to happen! Though to be honest Gray told me that he used to have a crush on you!" He told Karen. Her eyes widened in question and he nodded.

"Hmmm, did you know that Elli had a crush on you when you first arrived...?" She asked smiling. Jack shook his head and he gasped dramatically.

"No?" He said gaping for effect. Karen nodded and he laughed.

"Yep, but then she began falling for the Doctor and realised he liked her so she got over that pretty quick." She said as Jack smiled.

"Do you think Mary and Gray'll get together eventually?" Jack asked. Karen shrugged and snuggled up to him.

"I'm not sure...maybe. Or maybe Rick will get there first... To be honest I think Gray deserves her more." Karen said indifferently. Jack smiled and hugged her tightly.

"What about Aja, I've never met her. Where is she?" Jack asked curiously.

"I think she moved to the mainland. She got sick of Duke so she left... It broke Manna's heart." Karen said sadly. Jack frowned and stroked Karen's cheek gently.

"Do you think she'll come back...? Then maybe Rick could have someone." He said thinking. Karen shrugged and then yawned.

"So what do want to talk about now that we've told all of the villager's secrets?" He asked grinning. Karen thought deeply for a moment then looked into Jack's deep, chocolate eyes.

"The future..." She said deeply then seeing the panic on Jack's face added, "The village's future I mean." Jack gave a small sigh of relief and smiled.

"I hope it stays as pure and untouched as this forever." Jack said, he sounded distant and slightly worried.

"It can't..." Karen said after while. Jack looked at her in question and she sighed.

"Jack, you're the only new person in this village, unless new people come we won't have any more generations. There'll be two more generations after this and then... we'd either have to mix or bring in other people. Soon we'll all be related and we pretty much are now!" Karen said in panic. Jack looked slightly worried and then smiled.

"It'll all work out." He said calmly. Karen looked at him in wonder and curiosity.

"How?" She asked. Jack smiled a knowing smile.

"Because more people will hear about the island and want to come." He said surely. Karen nodded and trusted that he was right. Everything would work out in the end. Karen wondered if she should be so bold as to ask about their future but she decided against it. They hadn't been together long enough and hadn't even mentioned the L-word. After hours of talking the sky began to darken and Jack had to get back to his farm. He leaned into to kiss her goodnight but she kissed him on the cheek instead mentioning germs. Jack smiled and headed home and left Karen feeling brilliantly happy. Once he left, Karen collapsed on her bed, ready for her recovery sleep. She dreamt that night of what life might be like if she married Jack, it was like heaven on earth in her dreams. She had never been a girl who dreamt about marriage, in fact for a long time she had dreaded it. She'd always felt that her life would pretty much become unbearable with the same old house wife routines. She thought that her love life would completely deteriorate and she would become a sad, bored housewife. But in her dreams of a marriage to Jack she was happy. Jack sat at the dinner table reading the newspaper and joking about the neighbours as the kids played happily in the garden. She and Jack ate dinner every night together and discussed their day and she was happy. But she had to wonder, was that really how her married life would be?

She woke up to the sound of her mother banging hard on the door with the Doctor following behind. Karen blinked a few times and yawned as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She then stretched with cat-like elegance as the Doctor set down his medicine box.

"Mornin' Mom, mornin' Doc." She said happily. Her mother smiled and handed Karen a piece of toast for her breakfast. She munched it and swallowed it down as the Doctor took out his equipment.

"Karen, you sound a bit better." He said as he stuck a thermometer in her mouth.

"Yeah I feel fine. I think I'm ready to finally get out of bed." She said hopefully. The Doctor frowned and looked at the reading on the thermometer. He then looked at her throat.

"Right... you have no fever and no infection in your throat. I don't think it's infectious anymore so... you're free to leave your room." He said with a smile. Karen sighed with relief as her mother and the Doctor left. She then began the huge task of making herself look slightly presentable. She brushed her hair and teeth and changed into her usual winter outfit. She wore long jeans and a thick purple fleece with a plain cotton shirt underneath. She smiled slightly at her reflection and headed to complete the chores she had missed.

She spent the first nine days of winter being and making up for being ill. When she finally finished the winter work it was the 10th. She decided to visit Mary and have a book meeting where they could discuss the book. Karen hurried to the library and strolled in. Mary watched her and smiled taking the book from Karen.

"Hi Mary, I finished the book." Karen exclaimed proudly. Mary nodded and placed the book in its rightful position on the shelf.

"How did you like it?" Mary asked. Karen sat down on one of the squishy red armchairs in front of Mary's desk.

"It was really gruesome, but really good too!" Karen said smiling. Mary nodded and smiled her cute little smile.

"Yes. Did you like the discussion within the book about humans being the true beast? That they themselves were the true monster all along." Mary said clapping her hands joyously.

"Oh yes, I totally agreed with that, the only true evil in this earth are the bad feelings that lurk within us." Karen said with interest. Mary nodded happily showing Karen she had got the answer exactly to Mary's liking.

"Yes I agree. Also wasn't it awful when they killed..." Mary began.

"Oh yes! I was so upset, that was my favourite character." She said and Mary nodded. They discussed the book for well over an hour before Mary said that she had work to do in the library. Karen nodded and left. Mary had told Karen that she could read any book in the library when she wanted and could discuss it with her when ever she wanted. Karen's next visit was to her friends, she had no doubt that they would be in Ann's room at the inn, their most common hangout. Karen walked in and saw Popuri and Ann merrily playing cards on the sofa.

"Hey guys! I'm finally done with my catch-up chores." Karen said breathing a sigh of obvious relief. They both smiled and Popuri packed up the cards.

"Oh good, because honestly, I've become sick of Popuri's company." Ann said jokingly. Popuri nodded and then realised what Ann had said.

"Hey!" She whined. "But it is true, we've been bored without you."

"Yeah, we missed you." Ann said giving Karen a hug. Popuri nodded in agreement and joined the hug.

"Awww, I've missed you guys too!" Karen exclaimed happily. "So tell me, what's the gossip?" Karen oozed onto Ann's bed as the girls thought about the current news affairs.

"No news, really. Nothing interesting happens in Mineral town during winter. I hate winter!" Popuri whined wrinkling up her nose.

"Well there's Valentines Day coming up. Who are you guys going to give chocolate to?" Ann asked smiling. Popuri thought for a moment then looked rather sad.

"Well, since Kai's not here I guess I'll just mail him some chocolate cake. I suppose I'll give a piece of cake to Rick out of pity but that's about it." Popuri said.

"I'm going to give a piece of cake to Cliff, of course. A piece to my Dad because he feels pretty lonely on Valentines Day and that's it." Ann said happily. "What about you Karen?"

"Well a piece of cake to Jack of course... erm... Popuri could you help me cook the cake?" Karen asked and Popuri nodded. "I'll give a piece of chocolate cake to Jack then and a piece to my Dad of course. I'll give a box of chocolates to Barley because he's been so kind to me. A box to your Dad, Ann, because he's really kind too. A box to Carter because he's always been so great to me! A box to Rick because I know Valentine's Day must be hard for him and a box to Cliff because he helped us with the wine and he's a good friend. A box to the Doctor for looking after me when I was sick. Then lastly a box to Gray because he fixed my broom for free and made it really good." Karen finished and took a huge breath while Ann and Popuri looked shocked.

"So basically half the town, Karen it's supposed to just be for your sweetheart!" Ann said. Popuri nodded in agreement.

"Karen it's meant to be a romantic festival. Not an excuse to thank people for helping you out, you know that." Popuri said kindly. Karen nodded reluctantly and sighed.

"But I just don't want some people to feel sad because they don't get anything on Valentines Day!" Karen said. Ann and Popuri looked at Karen strangely.

"Karen, you've never been so selfless. Are you okay? Normally you just give chocolate to your sweetheart." Ann said looking a little worried as Karen looked at the floor.

"It's just so many people have helped me this year and I just want to thank them. This seems like the time to do it because the thanksgiving festival is for boys!" Karen whined.

"You sound like Popuri the first time she gave out gifts on the festival!" Ann said laughing. Popuri scowled but eventually nodded.

"Okay, fine. The truth is I'm sick of people thinking I'm totally selfish, so for this once I want to thank the people that have helped me, okay?" Karen admitted. Ann laughed and Popuri smiled.

"That's sweet." Popuri said and Ann agreed so Karen smiled. "And also kinda selfish... if you're only being selfless to stop people thinking your selfish..." Popuri said, confusing herself.

"Anyway... Good so that's what I'm going to do! Then I may force Jack to treat me to a romantic evening!" Karen said dreamily.

"Wait till the starry night festival for that, Valentines Day is just about the chocolates." Ann said.

"Hey, Ann how about we meet up here for a sleepover afterwards." Popuri squealed excitedly.

"Okay, that sounds great!" Ann said.

"Yeah let's do that, now I've got to go and visit Jack, I'll see you tomorrow!" Karen said as she left the inn. She trudged through the snow to the farm and spotted Jack outside exercising Silver.

"Hey Jack!" Karen said happily. Jack looked round and almost fell off Silver. He steadied himself and galloped towards her. He stopped right in front of her and dismounted allowing Silver to run off to the warmth of his stable.

"Hey Karen, great to see you well again!" He said happily. Karen smiled and hugged him tightly. Jack leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.

"You want to come in for some hot cocoa?" He asked hopefully but Karen shook her head sadly.

"Sorry, I have some work at the store. Mainly restocking the shelves, boring! I'll see you on the 14th okay?" Karen said smiling sweetly. Jack looked curious and cocked his head.

"What's the 14th?" He asked. Karen gaped at him, laughing at the fact he didn't know.

"It's Valentines Day silly. It's where the girls give her sweetheart something sweet and chocolaty. This year I'm going to give all the people who have helped me a box of chocolates, but I'm making you something extra special." She told him sweetly. Jack gulped and looked apprehensive.

"You're gonna cook me something?" He said trying to hide the fear in his voice. Karen saw his face and laughed patting his cheek.

"Don't worry, Popuri's teaching me how to bake and I promise I won't put anything weird in it!" She promised. Jack sighed with relief and gave her a hug. Karen kissed him goodbye and headed home to finish her jobs.

On the 13th she headed to Ann's to get cooking lessons. Popuri had decided that Ann should help Karen too so one could teach while the other made sure Karen didn't add poison mushrooms. Karen stood with her arms folded with an apron with the words "hey good lookin' whatcha got cookin'" printed on it. Popuri was wearing a bright pink apron with a picture of lips and the words "kiss the cook" in bold letter on it. First they measured out the flour, the butter and the sugar while Ann watched for any unwanted ingredients being added. Karen scowled at Ann watching her carefully.

"I don't see why I have to be watched. I'm not going to mess this up!" She said angrily as she dropped an egg on the floor. Ann raised her eyebrows.

"You were saying?" Ann asked sarcastically as Karen cleared up the egg. After an hour of Popuri's kitchen nightmares Karen had finally put the cake in the oven, with the right temperature for the right amount of time.

"That was a disaster!" Popuri whined as they cleaned up the mess. Karen had accidentally dropped a bag of flour and the girls and the kitchen was covered in a thin layer of flour. Finally the ordeal was over and Karen had learned how to cook chocolate cake the right way. The girls were covered in flour and had white hair so Ann had jokingly commented that they looked like old ladies, a comment which Popuri had not appreciated. Finally the cake came out of the oven, unburned. It has reason perfectly and Karen thought she saw a tear in Popuri's eye.

"Oh Karen, you can finally cook chocolate cake! Please cook it the way I've taught you from now on!" Popuri said handing Karen a recipe which she slipped into her jean pocket. Karen smiled and iced the cake with chocolate butter icing. She put it in a box and walked home feeling proud and praying to the goddess that she wouldn't drop the cake. The cake arrived home thankfully in one piece as Karen wrapped it ready to take to Jack's house.

Finally it was Valentines Day and Karen went around town delivering the chocolates. Her father smiled happily and gave Karen a hug and most of the older men thanked Karen and told her she was "growing up beautifully" whatever that meant... perverts. Cliff smiled happily and gave Karen a huge hug and Gray actually smiled for once. Rick seemed slightly awkward claiming Karen was sending him "mixed signals" which she admitted she probably was but promised that she didn't mean to. Finally she headed to Jack's with the cake as she had saved the best until last. She knocked happily on his door and watched him grin as she arrived. He opened the cake and commented on its beautiful presentation. He nervously tried the cake and then joke pretended to throw up, receiving a punch from Karen for his show.

"I'm sorry, Karen. It's absolutely delicious, best I've ever tasted and my Mom's is really good. It's so wonderful that you went through so much effort just for me!" He said sweetly and Karen smiled. She then went on to tell him that he could thank him on the thanksgiving festival with a fresh batch of cookies. He laughed and joked that he should have known he wouldn't get something for nothing.

"Well, you can start by thanking me now too..." Karen said hinting. Jack grinned and kissed her gently on the lips. The kiss became more passionate as Karen felt hungry for his kiss. The kiss finally ended and Jack stood up breathing deeply.

"Is that good enough thanks?" He asked jokingly and Karen nodded dreamily.

"Yep, that'll about do." She said breathing heavily. They smiled and she gave him a short kiss goodbye before heading home to get her stuff for Ann's sleepover.

Karen headed into Ann's room and dumped her stuff on the floor seeing that Popuri was already there.

"Good day?" Ann asked slyly and Popuri giggled.

"Not bad, had a great thank you kiss with Jack, maybe the best so far... but then again nothing compares with the first kiss..." Karen said happily.

"Yeah..." Popuri and Ann agreed dreamily.

"What about you guys?" Karen asked. Popuri looked slightly upset but shrugged.

"Well I sent the letter and cake to Kai and then talked on the phone. Not as good as meeting him in person but still pretty brilliant!" Popuri said happily. Ann grinned mischievously.

"Well, I gave Cliff the cake and he suggested we go back to the inn... so we made out on this very bed." Ann said with both happiness and pride. Popuri and Karen dived off the bed making disgusted face.

"Oh shut up guys, it's not like with have cooties!" Ann said angrily. Karen and Popuri laughed and returned to their position on the bed.

"So we all had pretty good day's..." Karen said happily and the others nodded gleefully. They talked about their boyfriends for a while before Ann asked a very awkward question.

"When do you guys think you're gonna do it?" Ann asked. Karen jumped and Popuri looked confused.

"Do what?" She asked, cocking her head innocently. She was so naïve. Ann and Karen looked at her sympathetically and Ann whispered in her ear. Popuri went bright red and Karen nodded.

"I've never really thought about it..." Popuri said honestly. "I think I'm going to wait until marriage like my Mom." Karen and Ann nodded, showing that's what they thought she would do.

"Yeah, I thought you would. Don't let anyone push you into it okay Poe!" Karen said. Popuri nodded determinedly then turned to Ann.

"What about you?" She asked. Ann reddened a little and smiled.

"You know I don't think I will wait until marriage. To be honest I've never been worried about the whole pureness thing, my Mom didn't wait and nor will I. Honestly I think Cliff and me... maybe soon..." She said blushing.

"Really?" Popuri asked looking a little shocked. Ann nodded and looked guilty.

"I'm not good like you Popuri... it just doesn't matter that much to me. I just think when the moment's right I'll do it." Ann said. Popuri nodded reassuringly.

"Yeah, honestly I think that suits you, where as waiting suits me. I suppose it's up to what you think is right... but I'd never let anyone rush me into it." Popuri said.

"Yeah, nor would I!" Ann said and Karen agreed. Ann then turned to Karen and she gulped.

"Well, I guess Ann, I'll probably be the same as you... at least I hope I'll be. When the moment's right... and I feel comfortable with the guy... and I think it will be Jack!" She said reddening. Ann and Popuri nodded in understanding.

"Or I may just have some drunken fling!" Karen joked. She expected Ann and Popuri to laugh but instead spotted them staring at her seriously with their eyebrows raised.

"Jeez guys, I'm just kidding!" Karen said feeling a bit angry.

"Yeah but Karen you do go a bit crazy when you're drunk and well we don't want you to get hurt!" Popuri said timidly. Ann nodded looking worried. Karen gazed at them both and scowled angrily.

"We just don't want you to get hurt!" Ann said defensively. Popuri nodded. Karen's face softened and she smiled weakly.

"Guys trust me. I'm not going to do anything stupid like that, okay?" Karen said. Ann and Popuri nodded and then smiled.

"Okay, we trust you, but be careful okay?" Ann said gently. Karen nodded and smiled eager to continue their chatter. After hours of chatting then drifted off contently in Ann's cosy bedroom. When they awoke the next morning they swallowed down some breakfast ready for the day ahead of them.

The days after that went by quickly for Karen she found little time to do anything but her chores. The only interesting news that came her way was that Mary was having a slumber party in light of her seventeenth birthday. Mary was the youngest and so the last to turn seventeen, the other girls would have liked a wild party but Mary was a quiet girl. Instead it was going to be a small slumber party with just the girls with jelly and ice cream and small party games. Karen had bought Mary an expensive perfume as thanks for the lending of many books. Jack joked about the small party for girls only when she told him about it. He'd asked if he could come as he could be girly if he wanted to. Karen really did wish he could come, she knew the party would be rather boring with the childish chatter and games. She knew that Basil and Anna would make sure that their precious little girl had a precious little party. At two o'clock she headed over to Mary's house and was greeted by Anna.

"Ooh, you look pretty tonight Karen! Please put your gift on the table and we'll have an opening session later!" Anna cooed excitedly. Karen nodded and placed her gift on the table, she saw that she was the last to arrive and apologised for her lateness. She could see that Ann and Elli looked bored stiff already. Elli was adult in every way and considered herself far too old to sink to such levels. As for Ann she, like Karen, would have much preferred a wild party. Popuri still had the wonderful ability to still act like a child, she was still so young at heart and in a way Karen was jealous of her for that. Popuri was therefore grinning happily waiting for the games to begin. May had been invited and looked very excited for the party to begin.

"First we're going to play pin the tail on the donkey..." Mary said shyly. Popuri and May cheered while the others groaned. They were blindfolded and spun around then they had to pin a felt tail on a rather ugly donkey picture. Mary went first and pinned the tail very close to the right place and so Anna and Basil cheered. Ann managed to get the tail in roughly the right spot and claimed that it was obvious where the tail was. Elli stuck the tail in the donkey's stomach and Ann commented that she was worried that Elli didn't know where the tail went as she was a nurse. Elli scowled at t Ann's remark and tried to stick the tail on her. Karen went last and ended up sticking the tail right in the donkey's eye. When she saw where she'd put it she gleefully shouted "bullseye!" To which Anna replied, "Karen dear... that's a donkey." Karen laughed as Anna quite honestly was under the impression that she thought the donkey was a bull. Many other party games followed and Mary won most of them. Most of the guests knew that Anna and Basil had rigged the games but Mary seemed oblivious. After the games they had a birthday tea which even Karen admitted was delicious. Then they dressed for bed and spent the night talking childishly about boys. Finally they fell asleep, snuggled up on Mary's floor. Then the next morning they headed home with party bags and cake. Karen headed to Jack's house first to share some of the gossip and the cake with him.

Soon it was the much anticipated Starry night festival, Ann was eating at the inn with Cliff and Popuri was eating quite contently with her family. Karen was eating at Jack's and he had promised to cook all the food himself and have plenty of wine. Karen spent hours getting ready for the event with Ann. However Popuri didn't join them as she was helping her mother cook. Karen had planned her outfit for ages and was only then gazing at it in the mirror. She wore a low-cut black top with a red skirt and red high heels. She had crimped her hair and curled her two bangs at the front. Her make-up as Ann said was perfect and not too obvious but not too subtle either. Ann looked great too. She had taken her sun-coloured hair out of her usual plait and tied it into a bun. She wore a cute yellow dress, one of the only times she had ever chosen to wear a dress, and tan suede leather boots.

"How do I look?" Ann asked her sapphire blue eyes shining. Karen smiled and gazed at her.

"You look like an angel." Karen said honestly and she smiled. They embraced happily and Ann looked at Karen.

"Well you look like a goddess!" She said kindly and Karen looked at her to see if she was telling the truth. Karen could tell Ann was being honest and smiled gratefully. She brushed her teeth one last time and said goodbye to Ann before heading over to Jack's. He greeted her at the door and gazed at her awestruck. He looked pretty good too. He wore nice jeans and a plain black shirt and was wearing just some black socks.

"You look... more beautiful than the harvest goddess herself!" He breathed and she beamed.

"Now, that's blaspheming!" She said grinning and he smiled.

"You look... perfect." He said and she blushed, feeling on top of the world.

"You don't look so bad yourself." She said. He laughed and led her to the table. He pulled out her chair for her and she sat down gracefully. He then served the starter of tomato soup made from his own tomatoes. For the main meal he served vegetable lasagne with peas on the side and finally for desert delicious apple pie and custard. Throughout the whole meal Karen kept drinking more and more wine asking Jack to fill her up. After the meal Jack cleared up the plates and Karen sat on his cosy leather couch. She swayed a little as she walked over to it. She was beginning to become a bit tipsy from the wine.

"Fill me up please Jack!" She demanded holding out her glass. Jack looked at her and took her glass away from her.

"Karen I seriously think you've had enough." Jack said sitting down next to her. Karen giggled drunkly and snuggled up to Jack.

"Fine, I won't have anymore. I'm not... hic... drunk!" She said hiccupping. Jack raised his eyebrows and nodded sarcastically.

"Jack... you know... hic... you're my only friend. You're the only one... hic... who's there... hic... for me." Karen said collapsing onto him.

"Karen, you are so drunk." Jack said. Karen nodded and looked at him for a moment.

"You know... I think you may be right." She said nodding slowly. Jack nodded and sighed.

"Kiss me, Jack." Karen said seductively and Jack leaned in. She kissed him back passionately and began slowly undoing the buttons of his shirt. He rubbed her back gently as she leaned onto him. She began to take his shirt off and Jack jumped up suddenly.

"Karen, this is wrong. I'm not going to take advantage of you when you're drunk." He said putting his shirt back on. Karen glared at him angrily.

"Don't you want me is that it! Wow Jack next time could you tell me you don't like me in that way before I fall in love with you!" Karen yelled angrily. Jack opened his mouth to shout back before realising what she had said.

"You love me?" He asked slowly. Karen put her hand on her head and groaned.

"This is not the situation I wanted to tell you in. Fine yes, but you're gonna break up with me now right?" She said bitterly.

"No, why would I do that?" Jack asked in surprise. Karen looked at him trying to tell if he was telling the truth.

"I just thought you would." She said shrugging. Jack shook his head and went to help Karen put her shoes on. "Do you love me too?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow when you're sober, I'm sure I'm going to have to remind you about a lot of this." Jack said sighing and Karen nodded. "I'll walk you home."

"Okay, but that might be a problem as I can't walk straight." She said hiccupping. Jack walked her home and Karen trudged up to her room.

When she woke up the next morning she had an awful hangover. She felt worse as she remembered more of the night before's events. She felt hot tears drip down her face as she remembered how she'd turned the most romantic night of the year into a drunken disaster. She glumly got ready and then set out to tell Ann and Popuri what had happened or at least what she had remembered had happened. She finished telling them as much as she could remember and wondered if they would tell her that they told her so.

"Oh Karen, I'm so sorry." Ann said as she held Karen in her arms. Karen cried and hugged Ann and Popuri for comfort.

"So now I think he'll break up with me!" Karen wailed. Popuri patted her gently and sighed.

"Karen I'm sure he won't break up with you. If he was a good enough guy not to take advantage of you then he probably won't break up with you." Popuri said reassuringly.

"You really think so?" Karen asked hopefully. Ann and Popuri nodded and Karen hugged them.

"So are you going to go over to apologize?" Ann asked. Karen sniffed and felt a few more tears dribble down her face.

"Yeah, I guess I should. I also want to get my story straight." She said. "But I just don't know if I can face him." Ann and Popuri nodded sympathetically and Ann handed Karen a cup of coffee. After gulping down the coffee Karen bravely decided to pay Jack a visit. Ann and Popuri hugged her and wished her luck then watched her walk out of the door.

"She's doomed." Ann said shortly.

"Uh-huh." Popuri agreed sadly.

Karen knocked on Jack's door and waited nervously outside. Jack walked to the door wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. Karen looked at his tanned six-pack and sighed, that made things so much harder. She felt a few tears run down her face and she took a deep breath.

"Jack, I am so sorry about last night. I was drunk and I had no idea what I was doing. I shouldn't have been drunk and I shouldn't have jumped on you, I am so sorry. I understand if you want to break up with me but could you tell me the whole story first please?" Karen asked, babbling sadly. Jack beckoned her to enter and she sat down on the couch. Jack sat down next to her and explained the story as Karen listened wide-eyes like a lost kitten.

"So then you asked me if I was going to break up with you…and I said no. Then I told you that I'd tell you whether I loved you when you were sober… and here you are sober." Jack said breathing in deeply. Karen looked at him inquiringly and felt her heart beat quickly.

"And…?" She asked feeling her heart beat faster. Jack looked deeply into her eyes and took a deep breath.

"And I…"