As usual I wanna thank you guys for all the reviews, smiles with appreciation. So here's the next part of the story, sorry about the delay i've had a lotta school work, sheepish smile.


27. I Write Sins, Not Tragedies

Ann looked calmly into the mirror at her reflection, same blue eyes, so why did they look different now? Maybe it was the confusion behind them, she had a decision to make. She looked tiredly at the papers that littered her desk, they had both good points and bad points for picking Cliff and Jack. Still she had gotten nowhere. She sighed deeply and began to plait her hair, fingers sliding nimbly through the orange hair. At least she looked ready to face the hard day ahead, right now she had a job to do. She forced herself determinedly out of the stairs and across town to a familiar house and knocked on the door. Karen opened the door, surprise lit in her tired green eyes. She opened the door wider to allow Ann in.

"Hey." Ann said nervously, taking a seat on the offered chair. Karen nodded silently and put on the kettle.

"I'm sorry Karen. I… well I'm guessing there's nothing I can really say to make you forgive me. But I need your advice, will you help me, for old times sake?" Ann asked hopefully. Karen considered it slowly, adding up the pros and cons of helping her ex-friend.

"Why can't you ask Popuri?" She asked eventually. Ann sighed and smiled gratefully when Karen handed her a cup of tea.

"She's busy, haven't you noticed, she's happily married and we're… not. She doesn't get these things, not any more." Ann said quietly. Karen nodded slowly in agreement, Ann was right.

"Yeah, fine. What do you need to ask, Ann?" Karen asked softly, cautiously sitting down directly opposite the ginger haired girl.

"Yeah, well. Okay, this is gonna be hard, I'm not sure I'd call it a long story but…" She caught a loathing look from Karen and continued hurriedly. "Well Jack and I, the night before last we…" She began softly, seeing a look of pain flash across Karen's face. "Yeah and then it was the fireworks festival and as you know I had kinda broken up with Cliff, we were sorta on a break. But Cliff proposed to me and I told him I'd think about it and now… I don't know what to do."

"You're asking me?" Karen asked incredulously. "You know I'm gonna say go with Cliff just so you won't be with Jack." Ann nodded gently before looking at Karen with big, blue eyes.

"Yeah, that's what Karen the jealous ex-girlfriend would tell me to do, but what about the small part of Karen that still cares?" Ann asked softly. Karen cast her eyes down and nodded again, taking a deep breath.

"A good friend told me once to follow my heart. That's what you should do, follow your heart." She said sincerely. Ann cocked her head for a minute and smiled.

"Yeah, I bet your good friend never realized what useless advice that is." Ann laughed. Karen smiled and giggled too.

"Talk to both of them, tell Jack. Trust me, he'll be understanding." Karen assured her.

"I do, with my life." Ann said, smiling warmly. Karen smiled back awkwardly and stood up. Ann beamed at her one last time and headed out to the house that Jack built… or the house that his grandfather built… whichever.

Ann took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the farmhouse, finding Jack sleeping soundly on his bed. Ann grinned at how angelic Jack looked when he was sleeping, so peaceful.

"Wakey, wakey sleepy head." She said with a giggle. Jack woke up slowly and blinked the dreams away, smiling at Ann.

"Oh hey, I guess I overslept this morning." He said, checking the clock and frowning. He sat up and gazed at Ann with curiosity.

"Yeah, I guess I underslept." She said awkwardly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, and I'm guessing there's a reason. Spill." He said sitting up and watching her intently.

"Right, well. Cliff proposed."

"Ah."

"Yes." She said. A brief period of silence ensued.

"What are you gonna do?" Jack asked, without even a hint of hurt or jealousy, he sounded completely indifferent.

"I was hoping you could tell me."

"Well I can't."

"I know." She said, looking towards the floor. She really wished he could just tell her all the answers. She wished he could tell her to say no to Cliff and to be with him. But she knew he wouldn't and she respected him for that.

"You really want me to tell you what I think you should do?" He asked, making sure she was definitely sure. She nodded to give her approval.

"Go back to Cliff." He said shortly, as though it were really that simple.

"Why, don't you want me?" Ann asked her voice filled with hurt.

"Of course I do. Ann you're so great, so sweet, I love so many things about you. But you know, I don't think it would ever be love. But you would never love me either, the truth is you do love Cliff. Plus what can I offer you when you know I'm still in love with Karen." He said gently.

"So what, you're saying our relationship was doomed from the beginning?" She asked angrily.

"Pretty much." Jack admitted with a shrug. "I'm not saying it was some… fling. Cos it wasn't, there were some real feelings there, but we both knew it wouldn't last. Don't give up what you could have with Cliff."

"I hate it that you're right. So this is it…" She said awkwardly.

"Yeah I guess it is, good luck! Friends?" He asked holding out his hand. She shook it and grinned.

"Always." She told him. She then headed towards the door and then turned back briefly. "Are you gonna be okay?"

"I'll live, I always seem to." He said with a wink. She smiled and headed over to tell Cliff the good news.

After all his farming work was done, Jack collapsed on his bed, ready to fall asleep. But he knew that the inn would be having celebrations for Ann and Cliff and she would take it as a bad sign if he missed it. He decided just to rest his eyes for a little while… Suddenly there was a knock on the door. He reluctantly went to answer it and found a grinning Karen on the doorstep.

"Oh finally, the girl I ordered from the shopping channel has arrived." He joked. Karen raised her eyebrows giving him an unimpressed look.

"You still don't look ready for the celebrations. Ann will kill you if you miss them." She stated, eying his clothing with disapproval.

"And you're here why?" He asked, forcing Karen to blush.

"I came… to apologize. I shouldn't have stopped being your friend just because you started seeing someone… granted my best friend, but we won't get into that. I mean you're allowed to see people, it's what two, three years since we were together? And I'm married for God's sake! So yeah…" She said shuffling her feet. He smiled and went to hug her.

"Uh-uh, you're all sweaty and I'm meant to look good for the party. You have a shower and I will pick out an outfit for you." She said bossily, flashing him a quick grin.

"You know I can pick out my own outfit…" He protested, but was silenced when Karen pointed to the bathroom. She picked out a pair of casual jeans and a nice black shirt and waited for him to come back from the shower. He returned with just a towel around his waist, and Karen flushed a shade of red as she couldn't take her eyes off his well muscled physique. He changed while she was told to face the wall, although she protested it was nothing she hadn't seen before. Then they were on their way to the inn. Jack laced his fingers between Karen's and they skipped off merrily.

The inn was decorated beautifully, which was amazing given that they hadn't had long to prepare. Every single shelf was covered in tea lights and a big banner saying "congratulations" hung across the bare oak ceiling. The tables were covered in drinks and refreshments, plenty of delicious looking fruits and vegetables. But the most beautiful sight as far as both Karen and Jack were concerned was Ann's happy face. They greeted her happily and both apologized for everything, then the corny hugs followed.

"Why a blue feather?" Jack asked as he and Karen sat down at one of the tables.

"Why not?" Karen replied with a shrug. Jack raised an eyebrow and asked his question again.

"Well it's tradition. People have been using blue feathers since… since ages ago. I don't know why it became tradition. I think it's because blue birds on this island were rare, back before anyone from other places settled here and it was tradition that a young man would climb high above the mountains to find it for the girl he loved. Kind of like a romantic quest, because if he loved her enough there was nothing he couldn't do." She said gazing off into space with a dreamy look on her face. "But now it's so easy, a guy can just buy one from the supermarket."

"Seems like kind of a cheat…" Jack remarked. Karen nodded.

"Yeah, but I guess if the feelings are true, it doesn't matter. I guess that's also part of the reason no one gets divorced here in Mineral Town, the feelings are supposed to be so pure after the quest that there is no need. I kinda wish the quest was still there today." She said distantly.

"You think that if the quest for the blue feather was still a custom today Rick would never have been able to propose to you?" Jack said, it was more of a statement than a question. Karen nodded slowly and looked at the door, her only comfort the fact that Rick hadn't even been told about the party.

"That's not true Karen." He said and she looked at him inquiringly. "His feelings for you were true, you just didn't return them." She snorted and leaned her chin on her hand. There was a ringing sound as Ann tapped on her wine glass, trying to get the chattering townspeople's attention.

"Hello everybody," the chatter continued. "HELLO! SHUTUP!" Ann yelled. Then there was silence.

"Thank you," she breathed. "Well I guess you all know why you're here. Cliff and I are getting married finally. We're planning our wedding for sometime this spring, cos Cliff's busy in fall with the wine harvesting and winter is just nasty weather… I mean no offence Mary and Gray… Well anyway, spring's the date and of course we'll post a bulletin in rose square, so keep your eyes peeled. So that's my announcement, eat, drink, be merry then get the hell out of my inn."

"She's a great host isn't she?" Cliff said wrapping an arm around his fiancée. So the party continued, with mass drinking and mass drunken slurring. At the end of the night the entire town, excluding Rick and Lillia, sang knees up mother brown. A tradition that had somehow been transferred from England, and everyone enjoyed it thoroughly.

When the night finally ended and Karen and Jack had helped to clear up like good friends they began to make their slow way home. The gradually cooling summer breeze wrapped itself around Karen's neck, cooling her skin. She felt a strange comfort being walked home by Jack, she still felt safest with him.

"I don't want to go home." She said out loud accidentally. Jack studied her and then smiled.

"I would say you could stay at mine, but I know Rick would blow a fuse and attack me with his chickens. His chickens are scary, have you seen them fight in the chicken festival?" He said feigning a shudder.

"It's true, but you should have seen him cry when I threatened to eat one."

"You threatened to eat one?" Jack asked incredulously. Karen grinned and nodded.

"What? We never have chicken in the house." She protested and Jack chuckled. Somehow during their chatter they ended up at Jack's farmhouse and stood outside awkwardly.

"You wanna come in?" Jack asked softly opening the door.

"Sure." Karen said without even a moments thought. They sat down on the comfy couch and faced each other.

"Do you remember when you got really, really drunk here?" Jack asked grinning. Karen flushed a violent shade of red at the memory, she had practically forced herself on him on that occasion.

"I wish I didn't." She said with embarrassment and he laughed.

"Ah well, I really shouldn't have been so… sensitive about it all. I mean we never did…" He finished off, he knew he really shouldn't be mentioning it. But it had been on his mind for a while, he regretted it slightly, but the moment had never arisen.

"No… but you never seemed to want to." She said sadly. She had always wondered if it was because of her, maybe he didn't feel she was good enough for him.

"No, but there was never the perfect moment." He said in his defense. She snorted and made a face.

"There were plenty of moments, you just never acted on them." She told him.

"There was never the perfect moment." He protested, casting his eyes towards the floor and trying to think of better excuses.

"It didn't have to be the perfect moment, with you, the time wouldn't have mattered." She told him, her voice was quiet and gently.

"That's what Ann said." Jack admitted, they were both right and he knew it. Karen was silent for a moment, her thoughts all running around desperately inside her head, trying to figure something out.

"Did you and Ann ever…" She began, before seeing his face flush red. "Oh my god… you did, didn't you… I mean… I didn't believe her…"

"Well… yeah." He admitted, he felt his heart begin to sink to his stomach, he knew she'd be mad. He had been right as his face stung after a hard hand hit his cheek.

"Why was there "the perfect moment" with her and not with me?" She asked, her heart aching with hurt. He swallowed hard, trying to find a suitable answer for her question.

"It wasn't the perfect moment, but she convinced me it didn't have to be a perfect moment." He told her. Karen's face contorted in anger, before cringing into a frown. Tears danced in her eyes, taunting Jack with the pain they held.

"Why couldn't you see that when we were together?" She asked, the tears beginning to make their wet path down her cheeks.

"Because I was an idiot then! I love you more than I've ever loved Ann so that doesn't matter." He said, finding his voice raised. Karen took a deep breath and he was sure she was ready to shout at him. But to his astonishment she nodded.

"You're right, it doesn't matter. It's not as if we were together then anyway. It's just it hurts… I… I…" She stuttered, her voice shaking. Jack took a step towards her, his arms wrapping around her back supportively.

"You…" He asked softly.

"I… still love you too." She breathed and before she knew it she felt his soft lips against hers. Gently engulfing her into a kiss that she'd hungered for, for so long. She wrapped her arms around him, deepening the kiss and closing her eyes tightly, shutting out all other thoughts. Slowly he slipped of her shirt and felt her silky skin beneath, running his hands gently down her back, sending tingles up and down her spine. She looked into his eyes, green meeting with brown and they knew, it was the right moment, not perfect, but… right.

Karen's eyelids fluttered open that morning and she felt warmth throughout her body. She nuzzled close to Jack feeling the happiness and warmth he provided her with. He had his arms wrapped around her and was still sleeping soundly, he looked like an angel when he slept. She stretched slowly and curled herself against his chest, pulling the soft duvet close around her. She had never felt like that after sleeping with Rick, never felt the happiness and longing to stay like that forever. She had always just wanted to leave, go out and get somewhere else away from him. She always felt so unclean and wanted to wash away his touch with a shower, but with Jack she felt shiny and new. She felt like a goddess, safe, protected and respected. He stretched and open his sleepy eyes slowly.

"Morning," he said with a grin. She smiled, a true and happy smile that he hadn't seen for a long time.

"Good morning." She said softly, and she meant it, it was the best morning she'd had in a long time.

"How'd ya sleep?" He asked casually.

"Best sleep for a while." She said happily and after a pause. "That was the perfect moment…. Besides, you don't snore."

"Hmm, that's good." He said planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Yeah, definitely made the night that much better." She grinned cheekily.

"Yeah, but Karen… what do we do now?" He asked, the question she had been avoiding. She placed a finger to his lips and shook her head.

"No, don't ask that… not yet. I just want to enjoy this, I don't want to think about the consequences." She said desperately.

"Well, do you want a shower? Then I'll make us breakfast." He said, stretching and standing up. She looked at his deliciously tanned body, his muscles were carved on him better than any sculpture.

"Really, shower and Breakfast in bed? You really know how to treat a girl." She said with a giggle.

"Sure do, you'll find a clean towel in there and as for girly shampoos… well you'll be glad to know I use 'em too." He said with a smile. She giggled and headed into the bathroom. After the shower she entered the kitchen with a white, fluffy towel wrapped around her, her hair forming in wet snakes from her head. She smiled to see a plate of toast and jam lying on the table for her. Rick would always go all out and make her a huge cooked breakfast, but Jack made her breakfast that was sweet and simple, which was precisely what she liked for breakfast.

"Sorry I couldn't make more… I never cook much for breakfast." He told her apologetically. She raised a hand and smiled.

"No, it's perfect. I hate to eat too much in the mornings. Rick always makes me an absolutely huge breakfast, I never eat it." She said wrinkling up her nose in disgust.

"About Rick…" Jack began and Karen sighed loudly.

"I thought I asked if we could finish this later." She said with annoyance. She began to munch her toast and watched his face for a reaction.

"You did, but I say we should talk now." He said firmly.

"When did you get so bossy?"

"When did you get so stubborn?" Jack retorted. She flicked back her hair and grinned.

"I've always been stubborn, you just never noticed it." She said lightly. He snorted and finished a slice of toast in a single mouthful.

"God, do you inhale your food?" She asked, rolling her eyes. He swallowed his mouthful and nodded.

"Pretty much, does it bug you?" He asked casually. She shrugged and nibbled her toast delicately.

"No, I just never knew I was going out with a pig." She said, emphasizing the word playfully.

"Well it works then, cos you're stubborn as a mule." He retorted. She snorted and made a face. He laughed and went to put his empty plate away.

"So, I think we should talk about it now." He told her, sitting down and facing her.

"You know, I can see you talking but all I hear is oink, oink, oink." She said coolly. Jack simply laughed then faced her solemnly.

"Karen…" He said sternly and she sighed, like a child being chided by a parent.

"Yeah I know. All I know is I love you and… I can't get divorced, Rick doesn't have the money to pay and we can't get annulled because Rick doesn't want to and it's not a good case. So… so… what can you suggest?" She asked desperately.

"I don't know Karen. But I don't want to lose you again." He said, he sounded like a small child pleading with a parent to stay with them on the first day of school.

"Then don't. This goes against everything I've ever been taught in church or by my parents or anything but… I could stay married and we could still see each other." She suggested.

"So you mean… see each other in secret?" He asked, eyebrows raised.

"Well, what choice do we have? It's that or stop seeing each other altogether." She told him. He sighed and rested his forehead in his hands. He silently thought for a moment while Karen waited nervously.

"Yeah okay, as a short term plan. But what about long term?" He asked after a while.

"We… I'll get Rick to hate me so much that he wants a divorce, then we go to court in America and we figure it out." She said, smiling at her supposedly brilliant plan.

"Rick will never hate you Karen. You've done some crap to him over the last few years, and I know he's given as good as he got, but he has never hated you. Why do you think it will work this time?" He asked, wanted to believe the plan would work desperately.

"I can be worse than I have been and I can ask Lillia to keep dropping hints to him to divorce me." She said determinedly.

"Okay, so say that works. Can you deal with the shame, Karen?" He asked, his chocolaty brown eyes searching deep within her own emerald green ones. "Could you do it to your parents?"

"It doesn't matter. If they're worth caring about then they'll understand and if they don't… we'll move to your house in America." She said brightly.

"You'd do all that for me?" He asked smiling. Her face went serious and she nodded.

"I'd die for you." She promised. He looked into her eyes and nodded, he would do the same. He leaned over and planted a passionate kiss on her lips.

"Now I'd better change and go, I'll tell Rick I was avoiding him so I slept at the inn. Could you go and tell Ann what happened… wait are we going to tell Ann?" She asked, pausing while changing.

"Yeah, we'll need her help." He said with a nod. She smiled and continued to change into the previous nights clothes.

She snuck into the house, praying desperately that Rick had never realized she wasn't home. Sadly she saw him waiting for her as she walked into the house, ambush.

"Where have you been?" He demanded. His voice was low and dangerous, much like it had been when he attacked her while drunk.

"Morning honey," she said brightly. "There was a party last night, you know the one you weren't invited to. So I stayed at Ann's, I didn't want to be here where I can feel your filthy presence." Rick winced.

"Yeah, well it feels great to have your skank-whore presence back." He snarled. She just laughed and flicked her golden hair back haughtily.

"Skank-whore? Nice word Rick, what bargain bin did you get that from… or did you find it floating in the sewers where you belong." She said, her voice still maintaining its cheerful façade.

"Whatever Karen, I'm going to work. I'll see you when I get back, then maybe you can make this up to me…" He said, raising his eyebrows suggestively. He then turned and walked out the door. Karen cringed and made a barfing noise. She smirked and then headed out to the inn.

Once there, Ann hugged her tightly, skipping around the room. Karen grinned, she'd never seen Ann so happy.

"Oh my gosh, I love being engaged!" Ann said, acting liking a giddy schoolgirl. "And I heard your news, could be dangerous but ultimately I'm happy for you." Karen grinned, that was the Ann she knew, giving her a warning.

"I'm happy for us too. Erm… did Jack stay or is he back at the farm?" She asked, trying to sound casual.

"Ooh, already becoming desperate to see him. He's back at the farm… but do you want to stay and talk about… erm…" Ann said, her excitement fizzling out briefly. As happy as she was she couldn't finish her sentence. She had planned to finish it with either "boys" or "my wedding" but she realized how much she would sound like Popuri.

"Yes, we can talk about your wedding." Karen said rolling her eyes and Ann grinned. She threw her arms around Karen and let her up to the bedroom. Once there she handed her some bridal magazines.

"Oh my god, help me pick my dress!" She said happily and Karen nodded slowly.

"The future's looking brighter already." Karen mused, flicking through the magazine. Ann nodded quickly and beamed at her. Karen grinned, things were definitely looking up.


See... I'm not such a bad person!