So that's Jack's part of the story done. So anyway, reviews! Thank you!

Kumiko Katawa: When was the story normal! Right... erm not quite back to normal, but you'll see. The divorce comes soon!

DoubleKK: Thank you!

GeneralDragon: Okay, I'll try to keep them both alive... once again I say for now, cos i don't want to say anything definite. So I'll keep updating and you'll see!

No on with our tale of woe!


25. And Love Said No

Jack finished his story and stopped to watch the shocked look on everyone's faces. He'd accidentally revealed Karen's secret, but his story wouldn't have been complete without it. But she didn't seem angry, on the contrary she seemed relieved.

"I'm sorry everyone, I just... couldn't live without him anymore. I thought we'd be together in death... guess I was wrong." She said with a sheepish smile.

"I mean my luck has been really bad for the last two years, but it was the best luck ever that I arrived just in time." Jack said with a slight smile. Everyone nodded in silent agreement, thanking their lucky stars for this double miracle whammy. Jack came back on the same night that Karen was saved from suicide.

"Well that was... one hell of a story." Mr. Hunter said inadequately.

"I'm sorry Karen, is it my fault you tried to..." Ann asked, guilty tears brimming in her blue eyes.

"God no, it wasn't you. It was everything, I just didn't want to live anymore it was... I just gave up." Karen reassured her, taking a deep breath. "I just wanted to die before you all began to hate me, and I wanted to be with Jack."

"Dear, it was a stupid thing to do, but its okay, you're still with us. Just promise me, no matter how bad things get, you'll never do that again." Mrs. Hunter said sternly. Karen looked at the floor, her face glowing red, shamed and embarrassed by what everyone would think of her. She then stared determinedly into Mrs. Hunters eyes.

"I promise." She swore honestly. She could see everyone gasp in relief around her. Everyone smiled and they all talked for a while, before finally they all headed their separate ways.

"Karen..." Jack murmured, stopping her outside the inn.

"Yes Jack?" She said softly, looking into his chocolate brown eyes.

"Can we erm talk... at my house?" He asked quietly. She nodded immediately, she knew they needed to.

They walked into his house and immediately sat down on the couch, facing each other. He smiled shyly at her and looked at the floor taking a deep breath.

"Where do we go from here? I mean, I know for a fact that I still love you, I always will. But how do you feel?" He asked, determined to get out what he had to say before letting her speak. She took a deep breath, frowning at the floor.

"I still love you. But I'm married now, and here the words "till death do us part" really mean something, in Mineral town there is no divorce." She told him, a feeling of emptiness spreading through her body. She was trapped.

"So what can we do?" He asked, looking into her green eyes. He had missed those eyes, for so long he had wanted to look into them and feel loved and wanted. But now all he saw was pain, a sharp pain that seared his insides.

"We can't do anything. I'm so sorry, but all we can be is friends, I wish..." She began softly, her voice wavering. But before she could finish she burst into tears, breathing in with deep whines. Jack automatically pulled her into his arms, stroking his hand down her back soothingly.

"I love you Jack." She cried, her tears soaking his shirt. He wanted to cry with her, mourn over their lost love. But they both still loved each other, but the sacred chains of holy matrimony bound her. Something had died when he left, but it wasn't him.

"It's okay Karen. I just want you to be happy." He said swallowing hard. He couldn't take it, he couldn't be so close to her and yet still not be able to kiss her, to hold her, to belong to her. She belonged to another, a man who abused her and didn't deserve her, but she was his regardless. She looked up at him with begging eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." She cried, finding what little comfort she could in his arms. She hated Rick and she loved Jack so much, so why did it have to be like this? Jack made soothing sounds as he stroked her back, trying not to break down into tears himself.

"I've got... I've got to go. I'll see you around... I'm... sorry." She told him, quickly standing up and hurrying out of the door. When she left, Jack found himself empty, cold without her there. He let out a cry of pain and his heart broke in two, his angel belonged to the devil.

Karen wondered along the path into the dark, Jack was back and yet she couldn't be with him. Her wish had come true and yet she couldn't bask in the miracle. She stood in front of her door staring at the house that now caused her pain, why had nothing gone right since Jack left? She gently pushed the door open and found Rick waiting for her, she sighed, it was obvious he was angry at her.

"Whatever you have to say, could you just save it for tomorrow, I'm not in the mood to talk." She sighed, she really couldn't take being yelled at by Rick right now.

"No, where were you? Have you and Jack... been together?" He spat, his voice was angry but pain was easily visible in his grey eyes.

"We talked, that's it. I told him I couldn't be with him because I'm married to the man I hate most in this world, there, are you happy? Does it fill you with joy that I'm miserable? Is that how you get your kicks?" She asked coldly. Rick exhaled deeply, he was just thankful that she hadn't been with Jack. He didn't care if she hated him, she'd hated him for a long time now, and he could deal with it.

"Yeah, I'm really overjoyed that my wife hates me, that I sleep on the couch and that the only thing that would make you happy would be to see me dead." He retorted angrily. She massaged her head gently and groaned, so they were going to do this now.

"Not dead, Rick. I just don't want to be your wife... why?" She said softly. Rick blinked and looked at her with tired curiosity.

"Why what, Karen?" He asked gently. She looked up at him, her green eyes piercing him like a knife.

"Why did you treat me like you did when we got married? Didn't you love me?" She asked, her voice wavering with pain. Her glassy eyes gazed at him, she looked so fragile, as though about to break. He felt his heart fall to the bottom of his stomach. That was his biggest regret.

"Of course I loved you. I don't even know... I guess I loved the control." He admitted, why was he telling her? Why couldn't he just ignore her question and the pleading in her eyes?

"But you never loved me... why did you marry me?" Rick asked, he had to take the blame off him.

"I thought I might love you, and if I didn't then I thought I would learn. But you treated me like crap and I realized that I had made the biggest mistake of my life." She told him, her voice was eerily quiet. "Goodnight Rick." She said softly as she headed upstairs. Rick sighed and collapsed onto his bed on the couch, tears brimmed in his eyes as his mother's words haunted him.

"You're only hurting her Rick, she doesn't love you."

"She's mine to hurt, and she'll learn to love it." He insisted to himself bitterly, she'd just have to deal with it like he did. He turned over in his uncomfortable bed and pulled the covers over him, closing his eyes to dream of a different Karen.

Jack looked at the time, it was late, but he couldn't sleep. He needed someone to talk to or else he would go crazy, so he dressed quickly and sorted out his hair. He couldn't got to Karen for two reasons, one – she was the reason for his pain, two – how could he wake her this late at night. He shook his head, who could he wake at this time of night? He kept walking and soon found himself in front of the inn, his parents? No he couldn't talk to them, they would worry and fuss and insist that they help him deal. He knocked on the door and waited until the tired red-head opened the door.

"I am sooo angry right about now." She warned, letting him in. She seemed angry but when she studied his tired, red, swollen eyes her face turned to one of pity.

"Sorry to disturb you so late, I couldn't sleep and I wanted someone to talk to and you… you were the only person I could think of… to talk to that is." He told her, his voice was weak and tired, forcing Ann to take pity.

"Oh it's fine, would you like something to drink, or eat?" She asked, fixing herself a mug of warm milk.

"No, I'm fine thanks." He told her. She sat down next to him with her mug and gave him a warm smile.

"So, I'm pretty sure I know what's up, Karen right?" She asked smiling. He nodded and ran a hand through his hair.

"What happened Ann? I mean she's told me the story… but I don't understand. She hated him, how could she suddenly love him… I mean I know she forgave him but… how?" He asked desperately. Ann smiled bitterly, her blue eyes filling with the painful memories.

"She doesn't love him. I don't think she ever did, she just fooled everyone around her and herself into believing she did. She just decided that you were dead, and she had to move on." Ann said softly, watching Jack's pained expression with sadness.

"But why can't she leave him now?" He asked her innocently. His voice was like that of a small child's, filled with wonder, so innocent to the reality of the situation.

"This is mineral town, the town that time forgot. Here it doesn't work like that, you get married… if ever… and then you stick with it, tell death do you part. The woman can't divorce the man and it's shameful for the man to divorce the woman, you're pretty much stuck. We don't have lawyers and courts so, we just have to deal." She explained. Jack gazed at her, her words filling his head, telling him the hopelessness of the situation calmly. He then cocked his head, had she said if ever they get married?

"If ever…? You and Cliff, you're still having problems." He said intuitively. Her eyes widened.

"Wha… what? Hey, this isn't supposed to be about me mister." She pointed out, standing up defensively.

"No, but… things are bad, have you…?" He began, but he then decided the question was inappropriate for asking someone he hadn't seen in years.

"Yeah we've had sex! We've been together three years, of course we have!" She said, laughing slightly at the question.

"Me and Karen haven't." He said with embarrassment. Ann looked at him, her penetrating gaze was intense.

"Why not?" She asked. She didn't seem to care that the question was slightly intrusive, but why hadn't Karen told her?

"Didn't Karen tell you?" He asked.

"Well yeah of course she did, I mean best friend and all. She said you kept saying no. So what's your side?"

"My sides the same, the right time never seemed to come, you know? I wanted our first time to be perfect…" He said, blushing a violent shade of red. Ann resisted the temptation to say "aww", but it was so adorable.

"That's sweet. But didn't you know that whatever time would have been perfect for her, she loved you." Ann told him. He nodded slowly but then shrugged.

"Yeah I guess, but then she slept with Rick and that was so… horrible. It hurt her really bad emotionally, which was part of the reason I forgave her, it hurt her more than it did me. But after that, I wanted to show her that it could be perfect, but the time never came. Then on the final night I said no, because I didn't want to love her and then leave her. But in retrospect I guess I wish we'd had that one time." He admitted, he was relieved to be opening up completely.

"I'll say. But it really didn't have to be so perfect you know. I mean the first time with Cliff was so spur of the moment, he just came up to my bedroom, kissed me and then it happened. But he'd really only come to ask me for a glass of milk!" She laughed gently, her face softening at the sweet memory.

"And you still sleep together now, right?" Jack asked. Ann's face flushed pink and she shook her head and Jack's mouth fell open.

"The last time was a year ago." She admitted. "So now you see why I know there's something wrong, he hasn't told me he loves me since then either. I don't think he loves me anymore Jack, and I don't know what to do." Tears began to trickle down her beautifully pale cheeks and her eyes shone with tears. Jack cupped her cheek in his hand gently trying to stop her from crying, empathizing with her pain. They both stood up, looking deeply into each others eyes, their pain molding together. Before either of them realized what was happening they found their lips together in a gently kiss. Jack's arms wrapped around her body, stroking her back gently and Ann ran her hand through his soft brown hair. After a moment they separated, breathing heavily and Ann rested her forehead against his.

"That was… interesting." Ann breathed and Jack nodded. Slowly they edged away from each other gazing into each others eyes.

"I think I'd better go… farm work… I'll see you." He whispered heading towards the door.

"Yeah, see you." Ann said softly as the door closed with a soft click.

Karen yawned and stretched out like a cat, she felt like she had a hangover without actually drinking alcohol. Sighing she prepared herself for the day ahead, brushing her hair and teeth, taking a shower. She still didn't know what she could do, she had to stay married to Rick and let her love, her one and only slip through her fingers. How could she do that though, how could she let herself suffer like this? It was like being starving and having a basket of food placed in front of her face but being unable to reach it. It was torture.

"Morning Karen." Rick greeted her when she finally made her way downstairs. She was sick of trying to be alright, she was just going to let her anger out, then maybe he would divorce her of his own accord.

"Bite me." She said angrily, pulling out a carton of orange juice and drinking straight from it.

"Why do we never have any chicken in the house?" She demanded, slamming the fridge door angrily.

"Because they all live in the coop…?" He said stupidly. She shot him a cold glare and reopened the fridge.

"Why don't we ever have any dead chicken… as in to eat?" She asked frostily, pulling out some eggs.

"Because I don't want to kill my chickens!" Rick gasped in horror as she shrugged.

"Why? Because they're your only friends? Well I want chicken, you know what, I'll go out and kill one today." She said uncaringly. Rick gasped and tried to stop himself from being sick at the thought, he couldn't allow her to harm his chickens.

"Karen, I know you hate me, but touch one feather on my chickens head and you'll be sleeping outside tonight." He told her angrily. His threat was futile and she just laughed at him coldly.

"Ha, I have loads of people that would take me in. I could go to the inn, Popuri's, my parents', or maybe even Jack's." She sneered, emphasizing the word to make him cringe.

"Please Karen, don't." He pleaded, he was begging now. Karen smirked and headed towards the door.

"Don't worry, I don't need to kill your chickens to make you feel pain." She told him before striding out of the door.

Jack finished his farm work quickly, trying to take his mind off the previous events of that evening. How could he have done that to Karen, to Cliff and to Ann? He shook his head, it was a one time thing, it would never happen again. He looked up and saw her shiny, ginger hair glinting in the sun and he gulped.

"Ann, what are you doing here?" He asked unsurely, putting down his watering can. He must look like such a pansy watering his plants, but why should he care?

"We need to talk, could we go inside?" She asked. He nodded quickly and followed her into the farmhouse. Ann surveyed him and gulped to find his face glistening with sweat, why oh why did he have to look like that?

"So you've either come to buy eggs first hand from me… or this is about last night." He said, trying to lighten the mood with a joke. She ignored his joke and quickly got to the point.

"Last night was wrong, we shouldn't have kissed. I'm sorry…" She said quickly. He nodded, he felt guilty too.

"Yeah me too, it was just... solace." He offered, his brown eyes shining with regret.

"Yeah… just solace." Ann agreed, breathing a sigh of relief. "So we can just forget about it right?"

"Yeah, of course. All in the past." He said nodding. They hugged awkwardly and before they knew it they were in a lip-lock. Passionately kissing each other and falling gently onto the bed. They separated and Ann looked into his eyes.

"Maybe there's something more to this…" She breathed. Jack shrugged.

"Maybe." He then pulled her back into a steamy kiss.

Later Ann snuck back into the inn, and leaned against the wall in relief. She jumped when she heard footsteps next to her.

"You're a little late Ann. You missed all your shifts." Her dad said suspiciously. She breathed in sharply, avoiding her dad's golden eyes.

"Yeah, sorry I was talking to Jack about what's been going on this year and I kind of lost track of time." She said, almost too quickly. She looked at him to try and measure whether he believed her. He eyed her steadily and to her relief nodded.

"Yeah, well okay, try not to be late again." He warned. His daughter was usually very reliable and it seemed odd for her to miss almost an entire day of work.

"Yeah I won't. I'm gonna go and see Cliff, see ya later dad." She said, before rushing up the stairs to Cliff's room. He was busy writing his diary when she walked in, staring at the crumpled pages intently. "Cute," she thought. "My boyfriend writes a diary. If only I could get a look at that…"

"Hey Sweetie." Cliff said interrupting her thoughts, his earthy green-brown eyes surveying her with curiosity.

"Hey… Cliff can we talk?" She asked, sitting down next to him on the bed before waiting for an answer.

"Of course, what's on your mind?" He asked, sitting up to gaze at her intently. She took a deep breath and gazed back, her stare equally intent.

"Where are we?" She asked softly.

"Well at the moment… on my bed at the inn." He joked. She laughed gently at his attempt at a joke.

"No I mean, in our relationship, where are we?" She asked again. He swallowed, he had been expecting this for a long time now. He guessed that her decision to ask had been brought on by Jack's return.

"Where do you think we are?" He asked, cleverly turning the question back round on her.

"No, I'm asking you." She said gently. He sighed, he wasn't going to get out of this by avoiding her questions.

"I… don't know." He admitted. Her response made him jump out of his skin, she slapped him hard across the face.

"What the…?" He began, after dodging another hit. She aimed a punch at his face and missed narrowly.

"How can you do this to me? Everyone else is married… and we're going nowhere. If anything we're going backwards, we haven't been like a couple in a year!" She yelled. He swallowed hard, he had known this was coming ever since Mary and Gray got married.

"I'm sorry I've been busy with work." He said awkwardly. "Do you want to get married?"

"This isn't about me. If you loved me enough you would have proposed already!" Ann shouted, aiming yet another punch at his face. Cliff dodged the punch and was beginning to regret having a tomboy for a girlfriend.

"I… I… I do love you, but I'm not ready for that… not yet." He told her softly, he tried to reach out and pull her into a hug but she avoided his touch.

"Not ready? NOT READY! We've been together for three years and you're still not ready? When the hell will you be ready?" She demanded, screaming out the words so her throat began to burn.

"I… don't know Ann. When I have something for you, a house where we can live." He told her, his voice soft.

"Don't you realize that those things don't mean a thing to me? We can live here until you get a house, besides you have a job, can't you afford a house yet?" She asked, on the verge of angry tears.

"Ann, when we're ready I'll propose." He promised, his eyes begging with her to understand.

"We'll never be ready at this rate Cliff, we're drifting apart. It's now or never, so here's the ultimatum, buy me a blue feather and propose or say goodbye. Because I'm through with this Cliff, I'm moving on." She shouted, then before she left the room added. "And, oh yeah, I kissed Jack last night." She then stormed out tears dripping down her face, leaving Cliff in a state of complete shock.

Karen stormed back into the house after spending most of the day avoiding Rick. She was exhausted, physically and emotionally, and all she wanted to do was go to bed and cry herself to sleep. She slipped into the house quietly and surveyed the room, it looked like Rick was out.

"Hello dear." Lillia said gently. Karen turned around and smiled weakly, it was rare for Lillia to leave her room much nowadays.

"Hey Lillia, are you okay, do you need me to take you to the hospital?" Karen asked quickly. Lillia shook her head and smiled.

"No dear, I need to talk to you." She said beckoning for Karen to sit next to her on the couch.

"Okay, what's up?" Karen asked sitting down gently. Lillia smiled gently and stroked a strand of Karen's hair out of her face.

"Karen, sweetheart, I know you don't love Rick. I know you want to be with Jack and I can see what this is doing to both of you. So why don't you just give up, forget about the shame it'll bring, people will understand, they can see you're hurting. Please, you're hurting him and he's hurting you, you'd both be better off." Lillia told her gently. Karen nodded softly, trust Lillia to give her the right advice.

"It's not so much everyone else, I can't bring shame to my family and shame to your family. It would ruin the foundations this town is built on. Besides, we don't have courts or anything, we can't get divorced." She said bitterly.

"You could get the marriage annulled." Lillia suggested. Karen shook her head.

"No, we'd have to both travel to America and Rick wouldn't do that. Even you couldn't convince him. Besides, we're just chicken farmers, we don't have the money to get divorced and we probably don't have a good enough case to get annulled and Rick wouldn't agree. It's hopeless." Karen said darkly. Lillia bit her lip, her daughter-in-law was right, it was a pretty hopeless situation. She knew she couldn't convince Rick to give her up, he'd loved Karen since he was four. She was the only one for him, Karen knew it and Lillia knew it. It broke Lillia's heart to see them suffering, fighting for something that neither of them truly wanted.

"We're stuck until the end." Karen said, her voice was quiet and soft. Then she cried in Lillia's arms, broken.


So Karen's still stuck, but she still doesn't know about Ann and Jack. But when she does, there'll be fireworks! Also of the literal kind...

Oh also I want to point out that I know very little about getting divorces or annulments, I just know what I've got from Tv.