Mike & Karen Ch. 31

Morning...

They were all walking back as a group from Jordan's cottage, laughing and chatting happily. They'd been served breakfast in the quaint old place, and the three women could not begin to express how awed they were by the transformation. All they remembered was a dingy stone building that had been used to store random equipment for decades, even before they'd come to Blackwell Manor.

"It's like something out of a Thomas Kinkade painting," Lisa gushed, almost dancing over the grass while walking with her friends. She'd gotten her phone call to Donna out of the way early, making sure it wouldn't interfere with the rest of her day, or (hopefully) her mood. "It's just some enchanted little cottage, I can't wait to go back!"

"In due course, my dear," Jordan assured her, walking along beside her as she held his arm. Janet and Mona were walking just behind them, and Jenny and Millie were bringing up the rear. Percy had been registered as a daycare visitor over at Kerkyon, and he seemed content enough with that. The adults were boring anyway. "You'll be welcome over whenever suits you."

"Pity Mongo, Princess, and our little boy couldn't join us, but that would've been a crowded table, for sure," Mona said, holding Janet's hand as they walked. Jenny smirked as she saw them from behind. Michael had told her all about how close Janet and Mona were, but somehow never managed to become lovers, not unless he was in the picture. The minute he was out of it, they got all awkward, even three decades later. They could kiss, caress, fondle, and cuddle naked, but lovemaking was off the table for some absurd reason.

"Six is the most people I have hosted as yet," Jordan admitted. "I am grateful that Miss Trilby agreed to stay behind and clean up."

"What is her last name, anyway?" Janet queried. "Y'said you hired her, so you must know it."

"Miss Trilby is not fond of her last name, she requested that we not use it, or tell it to people. I am fairly certain that only myself, Tatyana, and the lord and lady of the manor know it, in fact."

"Oh, sure, make me respect someone's wishes," Janet pretended to grumble, making the others laugh as they entered the manor, heading for one of the staircases. "So where're we off to, anyway? More relaxing and pampering in a lounge?"

"Is it still early enough for mimosas to be legit?" Mona asked while they went up to the third floor. She could've rationalized that it was always mimosa time somewhere on the planet.

"We are indeed off to the Dunsany," Jordan confirmed, while Jenny smiled and bit her lip, her grip on Millie's hand a little firmer. "Your hosts are waiting for us there, I believe."

They continued to the third floor and made their way to the Dunsany Lounge, which was a favourite of all of them, because it was so comfortable, old, and ornate. It was apparently modeled on a room from over at Heatherly, Jenny and Millie's ancestral home. They went through the door into the lounge, and indeed Mike, Karen, and Alex were there waiting for them.

They turned their heads and nodded in welcome, but they also had someone else with them, sitting between Mike and Karen.

Lisa, Janet, and Mona all paused once they were in the door, while Jordan, Millie, and Jenny moved off to the sides. The three women wondered who this newcomer was, they hadn't met her yet.

Was this Alex's mysterious girlfriend?

The inhumanly beautiful blonde girl in the long white dress stood now, looking at them as she slowly walked forward, almost like she was floating. Her sapphire eyes were shining, utterly enchanting.

"Hello, aunties," she said finally in a quiet but melodious voice. She was now standing in front of them. "I can't begin to tell you how long I've been waiting to see you again..."

Mike & Karen

Disclaimer: All characters are 18 years of age or older while actively engaging in sexual activity. This story is a prequel/sequel (sprequel?) to my other work, Alex & Alexa. As always, many thanks and gratuitous panty shots from Freja and Jeanie to my long-suffering editor and beta-reader for their assistance in polishing up and improving this work. Reviews are welcome; flames will be snickered at and deleted with extreme prejudice. Enjoy!

Please Note: There are incest themes with a secondary couple in this story. Just a forewarning.

Chapter XXXI- A Long-Awaited Reunion

Lisa, Janet, and Mona were standing there silently, struck dumb. The girl seemed to be doing her best to hold still, although it was clearly an effort and her eyes were shining. She kept her hands folded in front of herself, waiting. None of them had any idea how much time passed, before Mona slowly reached up a hand and placed it on the beautiful young woman's cheek.

"A... Alexandra?" Mona whispered, her eyes conveying disbelief.

The girl bit her lip and nodded. "It's me."

"Alli..." Janet breathed, rather more pale than normal, feeling her heart racing suddenly, thundering in her chest. "Is... is it really?"

Lisa seemed beyond words, because she was starting to hyperventilate, shifting back and forth from foot to foot and trying hard not to flap her hands. Her eyes stung before they were streaming, and then she flung herself forward, grappling onto the ethereal blonde.

"ALLI!!!" she cried loudly, followed by Janet and Mona, and Alexa burst into tears with them. They clamped onto one another tightly, sobbing as they tried to process this moment. There were no words, only sobs and cleansing tears of amazement and joy. Everyone else watched on silently, Karen with her fingers pressed to her lips and her eyes stinging, a single, crystalline tear on her cheek.

Lisa was still hyperventilating, even while she was crying, and Mona was almost choking as she tried to compose herself, looking at Alexa now, her face wet with tears. It was Janet who found her words finally, two minutes into the hug. Her face was red, her eyes bleary. No wonder Princess had hinted the day before at a 'no make-up' day, at least for the morning. Janet had just assumed they were getting facials, or some other pampering.

"Alli," she gasped, her hands on Alexa's cheeks now, making sure she was real. "I... you're back? Really back?"

"Yes, auntie," Alexa rasped, her own face wet with her tears, eyes glistening, her heart thumping in her chest. "I'm back, now and forever."

"Where's... where's your mom, baby?" Mona asked now. "Where's Miranda?"

This was painful for Alexa to answer, almost physically, but she managed. "I'm sorry, she passed away just about two years ago when we were living in Cardiff. After... after that had happened, I decided it was time to come home."

More crying, also now because none of them would see Miranda again. They'd all loved her so much. It had devastated them when Miranda and Alli had simply vanished one night.

"I think you ladies had better sit," Mike suggested from a chesterfield nearby. "None of you look too steady on your pins, after all."

The small knot of women, all still sniffling and even crying, made their way to the large chesterfield and began to sit down. Alexa was in the middle, with Mona on her left and Janet on her right, hugging her. Lisa had knelt at Alexa's feet and broken down crying again, her face in her arms, which were resting on Alexa's lap.

"So many questions," Mona gasped, her forehead pressed to Alexa's cheek. "Oh my God, baby... so many questions..."

"Let me..." Alexa choked, trying to compose herself. "Let me answer the big one, then... No, I don't know why we left. Mom never told me, or even hinted at it. But... she gave me the most amazing life, I promise you. So if you're happy with who I am, y'get to thank mom for that."

Janet and Mona broke down crying again. Mike couldn't help thinking that Alli's white dress was going to be completely soaked through by the time the waterworks ended. It was a pretty dress, but thankfully not expensive. It served its purpose, letting Janet, Lisa, and Mona meet the angel in white. How long this emotional moment lasted remained to be seen. Not that they were in a rush, mind. These tapestries, so essential to life, were due all the time they needed. He would have it no other way.

"She's with dad now," Alexa sniffled, her arms around Mona and Janet. "And here with us in the ways that count. She told me so much about all of you, and then Kar filled in so many details. I... mom didn't make it away with much, but I have pictures of you all in my photo albums, I hope we can all look at them later."

"K-Kar," Lisa wept, turning her head to look at Karen now, eyes bleary and red, although the tears weren't all sad. She'd always been the most sensitive of the four of the friends. "Y-y'gotta stop with the surprises, I dunno how much more my heart can take!"

Karen wiped at the corner of her eye as she watched. "If there are any more, I promise you that they're not of that gut-wrenching magnitude."

Lisa paused in her crying and looked up at her friend suspiciously. "Your dad's still dead, right? He's not gonna come waltzing in here and-"

"Lisa!" Janet exclaimed, for once the one looking shocked and horrified while Alex, Mike, and Jenny all laughed. "Don't say that, you silly box! I was at his funeral, and I Skyped you two in, remember?"

"I know," Lisa sighed, wiping her eyes again. "Just been one surprise after another yesterday an' today, y'know? All of 'em good, yeah, but I'm gonna crumble up into dust if I cry much more."

"I'll go get cold water for everyone, ma'am," Tatyana stated efficiently from nearby the door before turning and heading out. Jenny and Millie walked over to join Jordan on one of the chesterfields, watching intently. Alex stood out of the way nearby, just observing. This was all playing out pretty much as he had expected.

Lisa had composed herself enough to sort of kneel up, her hands clasping Alexa's in her lap now, and looking up into those beautiful blue eyes. She knew her own were a mess, but under the circumstances, she was pretty sure everyone would give her a pass. "Alli, how... how long've you been back?"

Alexa hesitated before answering. "Since last June."

Mona, Janet, and Lisa all slowly turned their heads to look at Mike and Karen now. "June?" Janet asked quietly. "Y'haven't told us in nearly a year that our little girl was back?"

Mike fielded the question. "We wanted to surprise you, of course. For the record, my family doesn't know yet either, they'll find out at the housewarming when they come down. It has been a crazy year, to say the least, and it takes some explaining. But Kar and I wanted you to have this reunion moment, ladies."

"I did too," Alexa sniffled, smiling. "I wanted to surprise you, I've... I've been waiting for so long to be with you all again. I know you all so well, I spent my life growing up hearing about you all. You, Kar, Mike, Jordan... the only one I didn't know about was Alex, in fact."

"The little boy we all agreed should be named after you," Lisa choked, tearing up again. "We all hurt so bad when you were suddenly gone. And nobody knew why on this end, either. And the only people who could tell us are both gone."

Alexa nodded rather sorrowfully, even though she was still smiling. "Mom never stopped loving dad. I was there when she died, and his name was practically the last word she said when she passed. I... whatever happened, it made me who I am today, so I guess I'm thankful, in a weird sense. It was a great life in Europe."

"Baby, are you ready for a billion, billion questions?" Mona asked, her forehead on Alexa's cheek again, her eyes closed.

Another smile. "Of course, auntie. I've been waiting for this for so long. There probably isn't a question you can ask that I haven't thought of already."

She looked down at Lisa now, a hint of a smirk on her lovely face. "Except for asking if my dad was back from the dead, of course. I didn't see that one coming."

"Gnnnnnn," Lisa groaned, her face in Alexa's lap now while everyone else laughed. "I just got you back in my life and I've already asked the stupidest question imaginable. Farvas redn ikh shtendik eyder ikh trakhtn?"

"Just part of your charm, Heyman," Mike replied to her question, making Karen, Jenny, and Millie snicker.

Alexa sniffled and caressed her graceful hand through Lisa's kinky red hair. She'd waited so long to do that. She wanted to do the same to Mona as well. The pictures she'd grown up with meant so much to her. How could she make these women understand how much they'd meant to her?

"You guys were part of the pantheon I grew up with," she sighed, hoping she'd convey her thoughts adequately as this (rather admittedly) emotional moment. "Kar, Mike, my aunties... I'd heard so much, and when I finally meet you, you're all every bit as amazing as you seemed to me when my mom told stories about you."

"Well, y'shouldn't believe everything you get told," Janet said, smiling wanly. "I'm not that promiscuous."

Alexa smirked. "Auntie, I saw you and aunt Mona in the spare bedroom with Mike yesterday. Well, somewhat."

Mona and Janet's eyes snapped wide at the statement. "WHAT?!" they both almost shouted.

"Lemme field this one, Alexa," Alex said from where he was standing nearby. He stood up straight and approached now. The three older women all looked over, remembering he was there now. Under the circumstances, nobody could blame them for forgetting anyone else present, could they?

"We had a lot to unload on you this visit, it's true," he explained. "Jordan, Aunt Jen, Alexa... so we spaced them out, to give you time to adapt. The thing was, that meant Alexa was hiding downtown with friends at their condo overnight, and as much as she wanted to surprise you, she was really not likin' the sound of missing everything either."

He sat down gently on the arm of the ornate, sturdy chesterfield, continuing. "So we came up with the idea of mom, dad, Jordan and I wearing little cams to catch all the action, from different angles and perspectives. It gets recorded and stored for memories."

"I admit, I stopped watching when you two pulled Mike into a room," Alexa said gently, smiling. "I mean, not like I didn't know about you all to begin with, but I didn't need to see it."

Mona looked over at Karen and Mike now. "You got everything so far this visit on camera?"

"Most things, I imagine," Mike said with a shrug. "Go ahead and tell me that doesn't suit you."

The black woman blushed a little. "Well, no, I didn't say that. We're being recorded even now, aren't we?"

"Memories for Alli, and ourselves," Karen confirmed. "Once this little meeting is over, we can no doubt dispense with the cameras, then it's up to us all to make our own memories."

The three women just hugged Alexa again, their crying finally having slowed somewhat. She sighed, finally feeling relieved, her anxiety gone with her tears. "I have so much to tell you about the past twenty years, but at least we have all the time in the world now. And I admit, once I catch my breath, I'm excited to do it."

"I'm glad to hear that, because there's zillions of questions," Janet agreed before looking at Mike and Karen. "Have you just been planting little surprise bombs around the manor, Princess? Every time we turn around, there's some new thing we didn't expect."

Karen tilted her head at her husband. "It was actually more Michael's idea than mine, you know what a penchant for theatrics he has."

"Oh, right, the guy who stepped into some ion contraption and beat it into producing Colossal-Yowie Manifolds to prove they existed," Janet grunted, giving him a look. "If you beat on me that way, I'd produce them too if it got you to stop, you big lug."

"No wonder I lost Kat to you," Jenny said, looking at Mike and winking. "Who could say no to that kind of derring-do?"

Mona, Janet, and Lisa all put up their hands before they began laughing, as the others looked on. Alexa smiled and laughed prettily as well.

"I can't believe how beautiful you are," Mona said, looking at Alexa again and caressing her hair through her long, voluminous golden locks. "I mean, we knew you would be when you were a baby, but... God, girl, you're every bit as stunning as your sister, and you look like a Blackwell."

"Thanks, I think," Alexa sniffle-laughed.

"You'll let me do portraits of you, right, baby?" Mona asked.

"I've waited my whole life to hear you ask that, auntie," Alexa confessed, tearing up again. "Yes, as many as you want, however you want them."

"We might need to get 'er a new dress, though," Lisa mentioned, holding some of the white fabric of Alexa's dress between two of her fingers. "We soaked this one pretty good."

"I bought this dress just to meet you all in," the blonde girl said, smiling. "I may just never wear it again and keep it this way, with all our tears on it."

"Annnnnd there's the dramatic streak that proves she's related to Princess," Janet said rather dryly, making everyone else laugh. She shook her head. "If your big sister hasn't already, make sure she tells you about the progesterone and the cough syrup."

"That was a wild weekend," Lisa giggled, and the other two women snickered in agreement.

"No, can't say as I know about that one yet," Alexa said, shaking her head. "But I've heard about the Beijing Scam, that was some of your finest work."

"Ugh, I can feel that old creeper's mitts on my legs and butt just remembering the incident," Mona said with a shudder.

"We've reminisced about so many old memories here in this lounge," Lisa sighed, looking around now. "And we're gonna have so many new things to find out in here now."

"We'll let you have some alone time with Alli," Karen said, standing up now, assisted by her husband. "Take whatever time you need, ladies. Miss Prospero will keep you furnished with drinks, and we will call you when it is time for lunch."

Lisa, Janet, and Mona hugged everyone before returning to sitting with Alexa, hugging her quiet questions, which she began to answer readily. Mike closed the door as he, Karen, Alex, Jordan, Jenny, and Millie left the room.

"That went well, all things considered," Karen said airily, holding her husband's arm. Alex followed just behind, escorting Jenny, while Millie escorted Jordan. "Lisa didn't completely flood us out with tears."

"She won't tell them about her and Alex, will she?" Millie asked.

"No," her sister replied, shaking her head. "I don't see that happening. That is one final surprise left for them today, right, Alex?"

"I'm lookin' forward to that," he agreed, smiling as he thought about the rest of the day.

***

A car heading north out of downtown...

"Man, the DVP sucks this time of day," Jeanie sighed from behind the wheel, despairing of ever getting to their destination. "By the time we reach the manor, Alex and Lexi will've been married for a decade. I thought the traffic would be light late morning on a weekend."

"I ams guessing not," Freja said with a shrug. Predictably, traffic reports had not been terribly helpful about the jams if you tried to head north. They'd already been on the road for forty minutes, and they weren't that far from the condo. "Worry not, yndling, let us try getting off on Eglinton instead of Lawrence, to see if that helps our cause."

It didn't. Freja shook her head and texted Alex, letting him know they'd hopefully make it for lunch.

***

Back in the Dunsany Lounge...

The three women were doing their best to not bombard Alexa with questions, taking their time with a patience they didn't feel. Mostly, they were asking about her now that she was back. The individual details of her life could wait for endless later conversations.