AN: Hope everyone had a happy holiday. I'm thinking of ending this story soon. It's to see where it can go except down the usual paths, unless I got evil and create a little more drama for our couple…Let me know what you think I should do.

Chapter 12

Months later…

Karen sat out back by Shannon's pool dangling her feet in the water. It was hard for her to believe she's been in Cameron for a year. So much has changed since she left her life in Pennsylvania. The best change was making the friends and the relationships she had. Jeff and Matt were the brothers she never had or wanted. Beth was the sister she needed. Shannon…well Shannon, was her heart. But just when you think things are going smoothly something has to trip it up.

"Bane!"

"What," Karen screamed back from the back yard to content to move.

"Bane!"

Groaning, she got up and headed into the house cursing Shannon the entire way. "For fuck's sake Shan, what!"

"I love you," Shannon whispered grabbing her from behind.

Karen pulled at of his arms and turned around slapping his arm. "You screamed like a lunatic just to drag me from my peaceful thoughts outside to tell me that? I know you love me."

Exacerbated, Karen headed back outside only to be pulled back into Shannon's arms. She giggled as he began nuzzling her neck.

"I love you and wanted to know if you were ready to head to Matt's," he asked stroking the expanse of stomach that her short shirt revealed.

"Sure but if you keep touching me like that," she purred as she leaned back into him, "we are not going anywhere."

"Fine by me," Shannon said dragging her towards the stairs.

"You horn dog," she laughed pulling herself from his grip. "Grab your keys and let's go." She kissed his cheek when he pouted. "I promise I'll make it up to you after we get home." Shannon smiled at the thought of later and followed her out the front door.

Matt's

"Seriously," Beth asked as they watched the boys plan out the latest Hardy Show episode. "When are you two going to take the plunge?"

Karen looked at Beth with a disbelieving look. "You are the right one to ask that question miss 'we don't need a paper to prove our love.' If it happens, it will happen when it happens. Right now, he and I are busy trying to expand the business and he's got all his Indy dates."

"True," Beth said with a laugh as the boys began rough housing again. "Jeff and I are different from you and Shannon. You both, as unconventional as you claim to be, tend to lean towards traditional. Tell me you haven't dreamed of the whole white dress and flowers scenario."

"I have," Karen said with a wistful look. "I can't lie about that but with my past it's hard to believe in fairy tales. I was with asshole for three years; I thought that was my fairy tale, now I have my prince. Sure he's my punk prince but if we kept things the way they are now, I wouldn't care. If we decided to go to the next level that would be great."

Beth sat in silence thinking about what Karen said. In the past year she learned some things about her friend but she was reluctant to talk about family and some other things in her past.

"Kar," Beth asked tentatively. "Why don't we ever hear you talk about your family?"

Karen looked down at her hands. Shannon had asked the same question when they first got together. He thought it was strange she never seemed to call anyone or have anyone call her. She remembered how he held her when she told him just a bit of her life. Over the last year he's been able to pull the whole story out.

"My family," Karen said letting out a breath. "I don't know the sperm donor who slept with my mother the junkie whore." She took a breath as Beth gasped. "He was probably one of her John's. She lost me to social services when I was 10. It was a good thing and a bag thing for me. I bounced from foster home to foster home until I was 18. My last home was a good one which made up for the bad ones. My foster mother died when I was twenty."

Beth didn't know what to say as Karen told her story however brief she was trying to keep it. She sidled up closer to Karen as a show of support.

"Ms. May was good to me and she was killed in a hit and run. Totally freak accident. She was kind enough to leave me a few dollars. I put that towards living and going to school. I worked met hard and graduated while holding down sometimes two jobs. I met asshole and thought things were finally taking a right turn. You know what happened next." Karen gestured to where they were.

Both women sat quietly for a few moments, Beth trying to digest all that was said and Karen letting relief wash over her body. It was hard talking about her past but Beth seemed to be taking it in well.

"Thank you for sharing with me," Beth said squeezing her hand. They both looked up and saw the three guys standing there. Karen looked down again knowing they heard her story too. She took a deep breath and looked up at Shannon. He gave her a smile and mouthed Proud of you to her. She watched as he walked over and sat next to her. Her body relaxed as her pulled her across his lap.

Jeff and Matt sat on the steps next to them not saying a word until Jeff spoke.

"I knew you were a strong spirit. I just didn't know how strong."

Karen leaned over in Shannon's lap and kissed Jeff on the head. "Jeff that was the abridged version." She looked at Shannon as she felt the anger radiate off his body. "The full version might scare you shitless." She turned and kissed Shannon on the lips hoping to calm his anger down.

Shannon was thinking of that unabridged version. When he was finally able to pull the entire truth out of her he wanted to go to PA and beat up or kill anyone who ever laid a hand on his sweet girl.

"'Ject, you know the whole story," Matt asked watching as Karen stroked Shannon's arm and played with his hands trying to bring his mind out of the past.

"I do," Shannon said kissing Karen. "My girl doesn't hide anything from me. Plus I'm like a pugnacious little dog. I'll keep yelping and digging till I get the full story."

Jeff laughed at his friends description as he knew the mood needed to be lightened. "Well you definitely got the little part down." Beth and Matt laughed as Shannon pouted.

"Nero," Karen said standing up in front of him with her hands on her hips. "There is a lot you can call Shannon, but trust me; little ain't one of those things."

Shannon blushed as Beth whooped it up laughing.

"Kar," Jeff said shaking his head in mock disgust. "I did not need to know that."

"Oh please," Beth said watching Matt and Shannon now laugh. "Like you three perverts don't check out the other guys' equipment in the showers." Beth and Karen laughed as the boys made faces.

"You probably have a ruler to measure each other in there," Karen said laughing. She smiled at Beth as a thought crossed her head. Shannon groaned knowing that look meant she was up to no good.

"Oh Beth," Karen said sweetly. "I can vouch for Shannon and you can vouch for Rainbow but Matt," she tapped her chin, "he's a mystery to us."

Beth caught on grinning just as evilly back. Shannon and Jeff exchanged a look having a feeling where this was going. Matt just looked on confused.

"You are right Kar," Beth said sliding over behind Matt. "I always wondered how are boys ranked." Without hesitating, Beth wrapped herself around Matt's chest and back and Karen leapt into his lap, her hands immediately reaching for his belt buckle.

"Stop," Matt yelled as he struggled with the two girls on top of him finally figuring out what they were talking about. He stood up trying to shake them off as they got his belt undone and now were trying for his pants. He looked at his brother and friend.

"If you two asses don't want to be embarrassed my Mattitude, get your damn women off of me!"

Jeff and Shannon were howling at Matt's distress as his pants fell to his knees. They got up and pulled their respective woman off him. Matt reached down and pulled his pants up thanking the guys.

"Don't thank me," Jeff said holding Beth tight to his body. "I just didn't want you embarrassed when you couldn't measure up to your baby brother."

They laughed as Matt scowled. "Nothing to say Reject," Matt asked.

"Nope," he replied laughing. "Bane knows I'm the right size for her." Shannon leaned down and deeply kissed Karen.

"Get a room," Matt yelled.

"Great idea," Shannon said scooping a still laughing Karen in his arms and ran towards his car.

Shannon's…

"You are evil," Shannon said kissing Karen's neck as they cuddled on the couch. "Poor Matt is going to be having nightmares now."

She laughed as she stroked his chest.

"I'm proud of you," he said kissing her nose.

"Why?"

"You shared a lot today."

Karen looked away not able to meet his eyes. He placed a finger under her chin turning it back to him.

"I didn't tell them everything."

"No, but you told them more than you told me at first. When you are ready, I'm sure Beth and the guys will listen and not judge you. I didn't. I still love you."

Karen's heart swelled at his words. "I love you too. Joe always threw my mistakes back at me. You never do."

"What happened to you and what you did to survive was what made you who you are. Take one thing away and you probably wouldn't be in my arms right now."

With a sigh, Karen settled more firmly into his arms. She never felt as safe as she did then when she was in his arms.

"Bane," Shannon said softly.

"Yes."

"Marry me."