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The Conner Family Ch. 01

By: Rugrat60



Chapter 01

"A Gift On Christmas Eve"

An entry for the 

2012 Winter Holidays contest.

Updated

It was a Friday that late spring afternoon when the unexpected F3 tornado cut a wide, fourteen-mile long swath through the sprawling neighborhoods of Brentwood and Lindon. It destroyed most of downtown Brentwood leveling the small hospital, the town hall, three schools, two churches and numerous businesses and an untold number of homes. The highway was packed with rush hour traffic returning home. A large section of both towns now looked like a nuclear weapon had gone off. The final death toll was one hundred seventy two with over a thousand injured and three who remained missing from that unexpected spring tornado. Two bodies were discovered a month later, the last one was assumed to have been dropped into the river and carried down stream.

The only good thing about the event was the time that the tornado had struck the towns. The schools were empty else the death toll could have much higher.

Robert Conner and his younger brother Sam, both firefighters with the Brentwood Fire Department and their wives Sharon and her identical twin sister Karen both of whom were nurses, were first on the scene. They had been at home just outside of the area hit by the tornado. 

In the utter silence of the aftermath they stood in a vast area of near total destruction. Then they heard the soft sound of a baby crying. After a short search they found, beneath some wreckage in the middle of a street, two naked babies, both were cut and bruised, but generally the boy and girl, both perhaps only a week or two old, were unharmed. Their identities were never discovered. 

Robert and Sharon adopted the boy, now named Kenneth Robert Conner and the girl, now named Jennifer Ann Conner, was adopted by Sam and Karen and they were raised as cousins.

Christmas Eve - Forty-Two years later:

Kenneth Robert Conner pushed back from the computer monitor and slowly stretched easing the kinks in his back. Then he set his glasses on the desk and rubbed his eyes. On the radio the classical station softly playing Christmas songs, again shifted to another winter storm warning. 

The snow had been coming down steadily all day and now it was coming down heavily as seen through the window of his home office. This afternoon's gray sky had promised more of the same over the next couple of days. The weather report only confirmed what he already knew. 

The window was outlined in blinking lights, which made the falling snow change colors. 

The blur of the window came back into focus as Ken put his glasses on.

Ken chuckled. They would not be going to his sister's tonight.

His sisters. He smiled remembering past Christmas Eves with Pam, Sue and his cousins Jen and her brother Brian. As children, all five of them camping out in one of the bedrooms at one of the parent's homes, developing their grand ideas on how to sneak downstairs and get their presents early. And always, being foiled by their ever-attentive parents. 

When they were younger their goal was to watch Santa. Ken chuckled. One Christmas when he was ten they had all gone down and hid in the dining room under the table. And all of them fell asleep only to awake to a pile of presents. Years later their parents showed them the pictures of the five of them all curled up together beneath the table with blankets taken from their beds.

Not for the first time since his divorce six years ago was he thankful he had started his own computer support business. His business was in medium scale business databases. Inventory and sales are what he specialized in. Only during the initial meetings did he travel to learn the aspects of the business - the rest of the time he was here until it was time to install his software and hold the training sessions.

Ken, now age 42, his name and work was well known among the consulting firms down the East coast. And he was doing quite well. The fact that he still held a Top Secret Security Clearance with the military, made him much more valuable. It even got him into the Pentagon and a few Military contracts.

Ken sighed really feeling content for the first time since the divorce. It had been a real nasty divorce. His ex-wife had been three steps ahead of him when she had suddenly announced she was divorcing him and kicked him out of the house. The two police officers she had called made that happen. While her future husband stood at the curb with that sick smirk on his face. It was a good thing the police were there.

He got the short end of the stick on everything. She got nearly everything. Except his bank of computers and servers. She had relented when he had informed her and her lawyer, with his own lawyer present, that either he got all of the computer equipment, software and all programs and full ownership of all of it, or he would go work pumping gas and she could pay off the mortgage on their rather expensive house and the ski lodge she so liked and the payments on her two cars.

Their son James was in his first year of collage and Ken had made payments on his student loans as promised. James was now out living on his own and he stayed in touch with Ken. Next Christmas he would join them.

Six months later his ex married that smirked faced man on the sidewalk. Then she and her bills were his problem.

Ken continued to watch the snow falling past the window, thinking of his father who had been killed in a stupid car accident eight years ago when a drunk diver had collided with him. So once his ex-wife announced the divorce Ken moved home to help his mother and she provided a safe, emotionally stable haven that he could settle in. And it was good to be back with family.

"Ken," called his Mom. 

He rose and left his father's old study and walked down the hall towards the kitchen and his Mom who was standing over the stove.

"Yeah, Mom," he said coming up to stand beside her as she was molding hamburger into a baking tin. He put an arm around her and hugged her.

She leaned against him. 

Sharon Conner was 65, tall at 5'10" with gray hair, which she usually wore down to her shoulders, but was now pulled back into a single ponytail; his father had been taller at 6'1". Ken had topped out at 6'3" and he pretty well towered over his mother and his two younger sisters and everyone else in the family. Both of his sisters had their own families across town, where they lived next door to each other, while across the street lived Sam and Karen, all about a twenty-minute drive away.

Sharon looked up at him and smirked. "Typical weather." She gestured at the window over the sink. "Not going anywhere in this. Already called Pam and Sue." She looked at him. "They said, hi." She chuckled. "They all say, hi."

"Did you hear from Jen? Did she make it home?" he asked thinking of his cousin who was in the Navy. They were going to meet her at her parent's.

"Yep," replied his mother as she spread some tomato paste across the top of the hamburger. "Jen got in late last night. She and Brian got to the airport about midnight and they got home about three AM. Hope you do not mind meatloaf. Oh, Jen wanted to know if you have that computer she asked for?" 

He leaned over and gave his Mom a kiss on the cheek. "Not at all. Love your meatloaf."

She smiled up at him. "You are such a tease. Peppers and onions the way you like it."

"You are going to spoil me," said Ken as he looked at his Mom and not for the first time he marveled at how young she looked. Sharon had always been slim and she jogged everyday as long he could remember. She had a tread master in the basement and that morning she ran her two miles. And when she wore her hair in a ponytail it made her look that much younger.

"Like who else am I going to spoil?" asked Sharon with a laugh. "Ben!" She pointed at their old cat, resting belly up against the kitchen heat vent. "He's spoiled rotten already."

"Yes, I have the laptop for Jen," replied Ken. Thinking of his oldest cousin who was 42, born three days before he was and she was a Captain and a jet fighter pilot in the Navy until her accident several months ago. "All set at military standard, just as she asked." Ken paused and was silently thinking. 

"What is it?" asked his mom.

Ken asked softly, "How's Jen doing?" 

Sharon snorted. "Ken, you talked to her yesterday as usual."

Ken remained silent.

Sharon turned to look up at him and she smiled warmly. "She's doing fine. She'll call you later tonight."

Ken nodded absently, as he was lost in memories about Jen's accident.

Ken remembered that day. Jen, then stationed in Florida, had been flying her jet fighter on a training mission. When just after taking off, they hit a flock of birds, which blew out both engines. Her now un-powered jet became a fast falling hunk of metal full of fuel and ordnance. Jen had related the events to him later. She had ordered her R.I.O. to eject. Who did what she was told. Then Jen 'dead stick' the jet, as she called it, to avoid the crowded area below. She was able to avoid a school and nearby homes only by staying with the crippled jet and guiding it down into a wooded area. At 50 feet she ejected and was caught in the fireball from the explosion and landed real hard in the trees with her chute only half opened. Weeks later she had told him that as she had punched out, she actually did not think she would survive.

Ken just happened to be in Atlanta at a client site, when his Mom had called him with the news. It took him, he remembered, seven hours full of panic and dread to get there by a commercial flight then finally getting to the hospital where Jen was still in Recovery when he arrived. Bandaged up and in casts, her jaw was bandaged, she was wired up to monitors and with an O2 line to her nose and bags of blood and fluid. He stepped over to the side of the bed. He could hear her labored breathing.

He remembered how afraid he was looking down at her. Her eyes were also bandaged over. The heart monitor displayed her rapid heartbeat.

Ken remembered that he had taken Jen's right hand and leaned down to tell her that he was there. Ken could feel her fingers wrap around his. And squeeze. He then told her, "Jen, don't you dare go anywhere." She then squeezed his hand again. "I'll be right here." Again she squeezed his hand. Then she held on tight.

It was then that a doctor came in "Excuse me," he had said, "you can't be here."

Ken had turned to face him, but Jen would not let go of his hand.

Ken said only one thing, "I'm family." And remained beside Jen.

The doctor introduced himself and then speaking softly began listing her injuries

He could feel the tears in his eyes that he had not shed then. 

Sharon looked at him then nudged him. "Ken, don't!"

"Don't what?" he asked bringing himself back to today. 

"It's over. She's okay and she's home," said Sharon. "She's okay because of you." 

"I ... just helped her when she needed it."

"That guy never even bothered to visit her," stated Sharon.

'That guy' was Jen's ex. She had been on her first deployment when 'That guy' filed for divorce. His name was never again spoken in the Conner household, a household with a long military tradition.

Ken said softly, "I remember, at the hospital, taking her right hand and I whispered to her that I was there. She squeezed my hand, Mom. Jen knew I was there."

"Then her breathing eased and her heart rate went down," said Sharon. 

"One would think you've heard this before," stated Ken.

She gave Ken her 'that really look' when someone told her something well known. "Two broken legs," she said. "Her hip. Seven ribs, her right lung damaged," stated Sharon. "Her right arm broken." Sharon held up her left hand, and continued, "Her jaw broken and wired up. She lost three fingers from her left hand. Broken left arm in four places. Her gall bladder removed. Her kidneys bruised and bleeding. The damage to her eyes from the fire." She paused then added, "Want me to go on? About the burns or how many pins she has?"

"I was there, Mom" stated Ken, shaking his head. "I know."

"We all know, Ken." Sharon looked up at him for a long moment. "Everyone is very grateful for the time and effort and the care you gave Jen. You were down there for three months taking care of her." She then bumped Ken with her hip. "Which brings to mind something that your Aunt Karen told me."

"What?" asked Ken.

"That when your Aunt and Uncle arrived down in Florida they walked in and found both you and Jen naked ... and ... you were carrying Jennifer around her apartment."

Ken's eyes widened with shock. And he could feel his face turning red. 

"And," continued Sharon, "that you were rather ... stimulated at the time." She smiled as she waved the spoon with the tomato paste on it at him. She then looked at him sternly. "Care to explain what you were doing with your cousin?"

"Mom, I ... I ... I, " he stammered. 

"Sam did say you turned a bright tomato red." She waved the spoon in his face. "He was right."

"M Mom," stammered Ken. "I can explain!"

Sharon looked at him. "Relax." She set the spoon down and washed her hands. "Ken, I know that day was the first day Jen had been out of leg casts."

Ken continued to look at her.

"Then three days later was her award ceremony," continued Sharon. 

"Jen was so unstable on her feet, and she so wanted to take a shower," explained Ken. "To be ready for..."

Sharon reached up and put her fingers over his mouth. "Hush!" 

"Mom..." 

"Hush," repeated Sharon. "Don't worry. We all know you helped Jen change the dressings and the other care she needed. Karen and I are nurses, remember. We knew what you were doing for Jennifer, what was involved. Ken, not once did any of us doubt your intentions. Besides, we know you kids all went skinny-dipping in the pool late at night when you thought us old guys were asleep. We knew we could trust all of you then. And we still do."

"You knew!?"

"I'm your mother," stated Sharon smiling up at him. "I know everything."

Ken looked at his mom. "You know I was going to donate a kidney if she needed one."

Sharon placed her hand on his cheek. "We all got tested up here, when you did in Florida." She rubbed his cheek. "I'm glad that Jen did not need a transplant. I was worried that you would donate one. But I would have been very proud of you if you had. As I have always been proud of you."

"Mom," said Ken, "I would do anything for Jen."

"I know. And so do Karen and Sam."

The phone rang.

"We all know that," said Sharon as she walked over to the phone on the wall and answered it. "Hello. ... Hi Karen. Just talking about you. ... You did? ... They are? ... How did it go? ... Really! The kids too? ... Wonderful! ... Well, I'll tell him then. ... Yes, I'm sure he would have agreed. ... They're on their way over? ... I'll bunk them down tonight and then we'll come over late tomorrow morning." There was a long pause. Sharon laughed. "Knowing the three of them we might make it for breakfast." ... "I'll call if we are." There was another long pause. "Nice! I like that. See ya." She hung up the phone.

"Guests for dinner," said Sharon as she turned the oven on and placed the meatloaf in. 

"Guests?" questioned Ken. "In this weather? Who'd be dumb enough to drive in this?"

"Who else but your cousins, Brian and Jen," replied Sharon. "He's got that Hummer, remember?" She stepped over to him and took his arm and led him into the living room. "We have something to talk about." She got him to sit down on the sofa and then sat beside him. 

"What's going on?" asked Ken. "Is there something wrong? ... Jen?"

"No, Ken. Nothing's wrong," replied Sharon. "Its that ... there is something you need to know. So just listen for a moment." She took his hand and held it. "Last spring, forty-two years ago there was that tornado which hit the town."

Ken spoke up. "I remember. I did that report on it in high school. How you and Dad and Aunt Karen and Uncle Sam found those two babies. And how they got adopted and ... and ..." His voice trailed off. Ken looked at his Mom with slow realization. "And ... That was ... that was ... Jen ... and me."

"Yes," said Sharon softly. "We all wanted to tell you both long ago, but things kept coming up. Your graduation from high school. Both you and Jen joining the service. Then your wedding. Then the others. Jen leaving for her deployment. Your Dad was killed. Jen's divorce and then your divorce. And now Jen's accident." There were tears welling up in her eyes. "And we always ... your father and I always thought of you as our son, and ... and you and Jen were and are ... just ... family. I am so sorry."

Ken looked at the far wall that was covered with family pictures. Memories flooded unbidden of this his family, his sisters, his cousins and of his life. 

He slowly turned and looked back at his Mom. Then he saw her tears.

"Mom," he said. "My first thoughts are of you and Dad and my sisters. My cousins. You saved those two babies and gave me ... and Jen ... us homes and family." He pulled her into a hug. "Thanks Mom. You have nothing to be sorry about." As he held her he asked, "Pam and Sue know?" 

"Yes, they learned this with Jen and Brian. Their at Karen's waiting for us." Sharon looked at him and added. "They hope that you will still treat them the same."

"You mean Pooh and Stinky?" asked Ken, using the nicknames he had given his sisters long ago. "Always. They're my sisters. Besides who would I pick on then?" 

Sharon hugged her son. "Kenneth, you are such a wonderful goof."

Ken snorted. "It's my job."

After a few moments Sharon sat back from Ken. "Now I have some questions that you need to think about."

"You might overload my brain," stated Ken.

"Fat chance of that, young man," stated Sharon. "So, are you going to get married again?' 

"Fat chance of that, Mom," returned Ken. 

"What if you met someone special ... like ... oh ... say ... like Jennifer?"

Ken sighed, thinking of Jen. He looked over at the picture wall again and focused on Jen's photo, the latest one. The one of her in her flight suit in front of a fighter jet. "In a heart beat, Mom." Ken turned back to her. He shook his head. "But there's no one like Jen."

"Remember that when Jen gets here," said Sharon. 

"Call from ... Jen," came the cell phone in Ken's pocket. Then the phone began to ring. 

"She always did have good timing," stated Sharon.

Ken had the phone out and open before the first ring finished. "Jen!"

Sharon patted his leg, stood and left the room. 

"Ken, we just turned on to Davis Drive," said Jen. 

"Jen," was as all that Ken could think of saying.

"Ken..." came Jen's voice. "I'll need help getting through the snow."

"The garage is open. Center bay," replied Ken. "I'll meet you." 

"We'll be there in five," said Jen.

Brian's voice came at him. "Better make it ten."

Ken said, "I'll be ready." 

"Ken ..." 

"I know, Jen. Mom just told me." He still did not know what else to say. His mind was flooded with how he felt about her. "I'll be waiting for you."

"I know," said Jen. There was silence for a moment then the call ended.

Ken looked at the screen on his phone at a photo of Jen seated in the cockpit of a jet fighter. Closing the phone Ken rose and paused at the edge of the kitchen. Sharon was setting the table for four. "Mom, I'll go meet them at the garage." He turned to go.

"Ken," said his Mother.

He turned back towards her. 

"I know you know this, but remember who you are and who Jennifer is to you."

"She's my best friend," replied Ken. "More than that."

"Then let her know, Sweetheart."

Ken looked at his Mom. He knew he could never think of Jen, his sisters or his family in any other way then he always had. But then a memory came to him of how close he and Jen had been growing up. That night shortly after they had turned 17, on her doorstep after they had gone to a movie together and later for an ice cream. When he had walked her to the door Jen had suddenly pulled him close and kissed him real good right on the lips. At the time it seemed to last forever. It was enough to make him start to sweat and Jen felt so very warm against him. Then she hugged him and whispered in his ear. "If you weren't my cousin, you'd be in trouble." Then she had quickly retreated behind her front door.


The Conner Family Ch. 01



Ken stepped over to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks Mom. And Dad too."

Sharon waved towards the hallway. "Go."

Ken went to the door to the basement and turned on the light and went down the stairs. Walking through the family room and then the workshop, then to the garage. He turned on the exterior house and garage lights. Then he watched for their car lights. There were none down the long dark snow covered street. After a few minutes car lights appeared.

A car was coming up the road. He hit the switch and the garage door opened up. The cold from outside flooded into the garage.

Then the Hummer was coming up the driveway and slowly eased into the center slot in the garage. 

Ken hit the switch and the garage door slowly lowered. The engine on the Hummer rumbled into silence and the lights went out. There was snow all over the Hummer. The driver's door popped open and closed. Brian was coming around the front and stepped up to Ken. He kept his back towards the car.

Brian smiled at him then hugged Ken. "Hey, Geek!" 

Ken rolled his eyes up and chuckled. "Bri. Not what I expected to be called tonight."

"With what we learned tonight," said Brian. "You may not really be my cousin."

"I know," said Ken not sure where Brian was going.

"But you are still family. Never forget that, Cuz."

"Thanks," replied Ken feeling relieved, 

"That's from all of us. You are family. And if you forget ... well ..." He snickered, " ... your sisters will beat the snot out of you."

"Can't have that," muttered Ken.

Brian chuckled. "It would not be pretty." He then reached into his coat pocket and took out a small, long box He held it so only Ken could see it. "That is from all of us. Except, Jen. It's a gift to the two of you." Brian opened the box. "Identical silver necklaces and crosses." Brian touched a gold ring that hung on one of the chains. "That's the ring Dad gave to Mom when he proposed. They want you to give it to Jen when you propose."

"I ... I" Ken looked at Brian. "This is ... sudden."

Brian snickered as he handed Ken the box. "You have ten minutes." 

"What?"

"The deadline is from Pam and Sue and me. Now I am going upstairs to say hi to Aunt Sharon," stated Brian. "Take off my coat and then come back down and watch your back while you carry Jen up the stairs. Her knees are still bothering her." Brian then backed up from Ken, turned and headed towards the door into the house. 

Ken just watched Brian as he walked away. His mind filled with the sudden thoughts of being married to Jennifer. And his mother's recent words came back to him. 

Brian paused at the door and looked back at him. "Just don't stand there. Go let your lady out of the car."

Ken stuffed the box into his pocket and stepped over to the door of the Hummer. Jen was looking out at him with a big smile on her face. He opened the door. "Hi, Jen."

"Hi," she replied softly.

Ken looked into Jen's eyes and not for the first time he was lost just looking at her.

She shifted to swing her legs towards him. Jen spread her legs apart and held out her arms and Ken stepped between them to give her a hug.

"I am so glad that you're home." Ken hugged her a little tighter. "How long can you stay?"

"I am discharged with full medical disability," replied Jen. "I'm home to stay."

"I am sorry, Jen" said Ken. "But, ... I'm also so glad that you're home." Ken released her and stepped back. "After I got home from Florida, I realized just how much I missed just being with you."

"And I with you," said Jen. "When I woke up in the hospital, I was so hurt and scared and so very afraid." She paused a moment. "I never told this to you or anyone. You know ... being the brave Navy fighter pilot. But ... when I was laying there ... in the dark ... in the hospital. Listening to the monitors and the voices. I was so scared. They kept talking about me. How bad I was hurt. The things that ... were wrong with me. That I might not make it. No one talked to me. Then ... then someone squeezed my hand ... then you told me you were there." Jen wrapped her arms about Ken and pulled him close. "You saved me from the dark." She sniffled. "I knew then I would be okay."

"How did you know?" asked Ken.

Jen released him and leaned back. There were tears running down her face.

"That I'd be okay?" she asked.

Ken nodded. 

"Because whenever we are together, you always ... always made sure I was okay." She paused to look at him. "Like that time I ended up with two flat tires out at the beach." She shook her head. "You drove out there with two new tires and rims in Dad's truck. And Dad let you come out alone to rescue me. I always felt safe with you. More than safe. You made me feel important."

Ken snorted. "I was more impressed that your Dad trusted me with his truck."

Jen slapped his arm. "Boys with their toys."

"Jennifer, you are important. Always have been. To me. To our family." Ken reached up and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. "That's the way I feel about you, Jen."

"Ken, before I forget, thanks for paying for Brian's air tickets. And for everyone to come down and stay when they could."

"Anything for family."

"I'm glad you let Brian come down to Florida to get me," said Jen. "It made the trip that much easier." Jen flashed him a smile. "Which brings us to ..."

"To that day forty-two years ago," finished Ken.

Jen nodded slowly.

He looked into her eyes very intently for several seconds. 

"What is it?" asked Jen.

"Jen, ..." Ken paused and reached into his pocket and took the box out. He continued to look in Jen's eyes. "I have something for you."

"What?"

"And a question," added Ken.

Jen glanced down at the box then looked up at him. "What question?"

Ken opened the box and showed her. "Jennifer, would you ... ." Ken paused. "Mar ... "

"Yes!" she blurted out. 

"... me," finished Ken

"Oh, Ken! Yes!"

Jen took off her gloves and reached up to hold his face and pulled him close and they kissed.

It was a long kiss. They had kissed each other on the lips in the past. But this time it was different. So very different.

Ken leaned back and held up the box. 

Jen took off her wool cap and unzipped her coat some. 

Ken took out the necklace with the ring and placed it over her head and carefully laid it on her chest. "The ring," said Ken, "was your Mom's engagement ring. Your Mom and Dad wanted you to have it."

Jen then placed the other necklace over Ken's head and about his neck. She then kissed him again.

There was a sudden loud whoop from behind Ken. 

Breaking the kiss they turned to see Sharon and Brian looking over at them. 

"You sneak," said Jen. 

"Not just us," said Brian. He held up his cell phone. "Everyone at the house was watching."

Suddenly there were a number of voices coming from the small speaker on his phone.

Ken turned to look at Jen. "Let's get you up stairs where it's warm." 

"And where there's privacy," stated Jen, sticking her tongue out at Brian as he walked over to them.

"Dinner," exclaimed Sharon and she was gone. 

Putting the phone away, Brian chuckled. "Saved forever."

Jen handed Brian her cane. "I should hit you on the head with that."

"Nothing there to hurt," said Brian moving to the rear door. "I'll get the bags."

Ken looked at Jen. "Can you make it to the stairs or do you want me to carry you?"

They looked at each other until Brian closed the rear door. He glanced at them and said, "I'll take these upstairs. Call me when you're ready."

Looking at Ken, Jen said, "You surprised me."

"You! Brian gave me a ten-minute deadline to propose," explained Ken.

"So you needed a deadline?" questioned Jen.

"I ... I wanted to talk with you first."

When Brian's footsteps faded Jen asked softly, "Are you okay with this?"

"Jen, you've been my best friend all my life," replied Ken. "But we were family."

Jen snorted. "Same. Same." Then she looked seriously at him. "But ... I'm a bit scared."

"Of me? Why?"

"No, Ken. Never been scared of you." Jen paused a second looking at him. "Of me. I'm afraid I might hurt you." She held up her left hand with her remaining thumb and index finger. "I'm afraid I might ... disappoint you. There are so many scars. The burns. I'm not pretty to look at. And you know I'll never be able to give you ... us a baby."

"I've seen your scars," said Ken softly. "All of them. I washed and bandaged every single one of them. I even counted them all." He sighed. "On us having a family. ... We can always do what our parents did."

"Look for a tornado," said Jen, "and see if it dropped a couple of kids off!"

Ken chuckled. "We could try that. It might be a while before we find the OZ Express."

"The OZ Express?" asked Jen.

"Well," said Ken, "we had to come from somewhere over the rainbow." 

Jen hid her face behind her right hand as she snickered. 

"Sorry, it just came out."

"After that one," said Jen. She reached out and touched his face with her right hand. "I think I'll keep you. You have always been able to make me laugh."

Ken suddenly smirked and asked, "So is this the trouble you said I would be in?"

Jen looked confused. "Trouble?"

"Back after our 17th birthday, when we went to the movies and a ice cream. I took you home and walked you to your door."

"Like the gentleman you have always been," said Jen.

"You suddenly kissed me really good and right on the mouth," continued Ken. "Jennifer Ann, you made me sweat. Then you hugged me and whispered that if we were not cousins, I would be in trouble. Then you ran inside."

Jen suddenly smiled and looked down at the floor. "I remember." She then looked up at him. "Yeah, you're in trouble now."

Ken asked, "So ... you're okay with this?"

"After today and everything," said Jen. "I can not think of anyone I would rather spend my life with."

Ken lifted up her left hand and kissed her palm and looked at her. "I know I've said this in the past. I love you. But that was different. Jen, I do love you. Guess I always have."

"You are always the perfect gentleman," said Jen. "I knew I could always trust you."

Ken glanced away then looked back at her. "I thought I would lose you."

Jen sighed. "Laying there in the dark I was lost. Then you whispered to me. I knew that was your voice. I knew I was safe with you there." She smiled at him then said, "My knees are really bothering me. Will you carry me upstairs?" 

"Sure," replied Ken. He backed up slightly and put his right arm under Jen's knees and his left around her back and under her left arm and lifted. Jen put her right arm across his shoulders. He backed up and Jen pushed the car door closed with her left hand. As Ken turned towards the door to the basement Jen leaned against him. Her left arm came up and she rested her left hand on his chest. She placed her hand on the necklace and rubbed it. 

Ken could feel her take a deep breath and let it out. She then snuggled in against him. 

Jen said softly, "I like being here. You make me feel safe. And wanted. And yes, you are defiantly in trouble now." She raised her voice a little. "Brian."

"Coming, Sis," came Brian's voice. 

She pointed with her left hand upwards. "And Brian and everyone they have not changed how they feel about us."

In a moment Brian was down the stairs and followed Ken and Jen up with his hand resting on Ken's back for support. Ken carried Jen into the kitchen and set her down on her feet. 

At 5'6" the top of her head just reached Ken's shoulder.

Sharon had the table ready for dinner. She was just setting a bowl of carrots on the table and turned to look at Jennifer and Kenneth. 

Jen took Ken's left hand and pulled him over to stand by Sharon. Then she used her left hand to hold up the necklace to show the ring.

Sharon smiled and looked at the ring hanging from the necklace. She then looked at the two of them. "Congratulations!" She then gave each a quick kiss on a cheek. "And Jennifer, welcome home."

*** *** *** *** *** 

Dinner went by quickly and ended with Brian and Sharon clearing the table. 

"Too bad we're going to miss movie night," said Brain as he placed a plate in the dishwasher. 

"Not a chance," stated Sharon. "Miss Christmas Eve movie night. Never happen."

Jen chuckled.

Sharon said, "Better hurry Brian, the movie's about to start."

Brian laughed. 

"A sure thing." Ken laughed remembering growing up to that call of the 'movie's about to start.' His parent's bedroom with the large king-sized bed was known as The Conner Family Movie Theater East and Jen and Brian's house was known as The Conner Family Movie Theater West and many Friday and Saturday nights their parents, his sisters and cousins would crowd upon his parent's bed or they would be at his cousins house and watch some movie as an extended family. It gave them time to spend together and they had remained close as a family.

There were times when he or his sisters or cousins would bring friends over to join in on movie night. As their parents had stated, there was always room for one more. There were also times as they grew up when school plans interrupted their schedule, or someone would be away on a date or one or more of their parents would be on duty. One of their parents would always be available to watch over all of them.

"So Aunt Sharon, what's on the marquee for tonight?" asked Brian. 

Jen laughed. "I hope it's not the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

"Please!" laughed Sharon. "I remember watching them so many times, that the five of you could recite the lines."

Ken chuckled. "Remember that night when Dad turned off the sound and had us do the lines?

Jen started to laugh. "That was so funny."

"Oh, Yes. You kids were rather creative," said Sharon still laughing. "You had us all laughing so hard there was popcorn and M&Ms everywhere."

"So which one are we watching tonight?" asked Brian with a straight face. "One, Two or Three?"

Sharon poked his arm "Both of you are a pair of Goofs!" She pointed at Jen. "And you too young Lady. You've done your fair share."

Both Ken and Brian held up their hands, saying together, "Someone has to do it."

"What am I ever going to do?" Jen laughed. "I have a goof for a brother and now I am engaged to another goof. Oh! My! A Brian, a Kenneth and Aunt Sharon. Oh My! What am I ever going to do?" 

Sharon chuckled, and hunched over and spoke with her voice crackling. "You can't get away from us now ... my pretty. Hee Hee Hee." 

Ken was tapping the table laughing. 

"Oh! Toto," stated Jen, with her hands to her face, between laughs. "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

The laughter subsided and Jen looked at the three of them. She leaned against Ken and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm home now. I'm finally home."

Ken kissed her on the top of her head and put his arm around her. 

Brian came up behind Jen and leaned over and gave his sister a kiss on the cheek. She looked up at him and smiled.

He stood up and patted Ken on his back as he went to sit down.

Jen rested her head back on Ken's shoulder. 

Sharon brought over wine glasses and set them on the table. Then from the fridge she got a bottle of dark red wine. "I was saving this for some special occasion. And I think your engagement fits the bill." She handed the bottle to Brian. Then got the corkscrew.

Brian opened the bottle and removed the cork. Then poured wine for each of them. 

From her chair, Sharon said, "Brian, will you do the honors?"

Brian stood and picked up his glass. He looked at Jen and Ken. "Humm! Setting aside the fact that you two fell out of a tornado. And some of us still have some rather serious questions on that. Yet, we are family. We grew up together. And ... that I have known you two all my life. You two have been and are the two best friends to each other that I know. Two friends who I have watched do anything and everything for the other." 

"And Jen, we will not count the time you painted my toe nails green." 

Jen began giggling. "It was his favorite color." 

"I was asleep," declared Brian. "And it took me nearly a week to get it off."

Sharon and Ken laughed. 

"And you Ken, we shall not count the time you threw me, in my jamies, at night, outside into a snow bank. Just because I ate the last piece of pie."

Ken chuckled. 

Jen slapped Ken's arm. 

Sharon covered her mouth as she tried to hide her laughter, "That I remember."

Brian raised his glass. "May you both know only joy and happiness together." 

They all sipped their wine. 

Jen smiled. "Thanks, Brian. That was very nice." 

"Brian," said Ken.

"Yeah?" replied Brian as he sipped the wine. 

"I'd like you to be Best Man."

"Oh!" said Jen, as she looked at Brian. 

Brian gave him a questioning look. "You're not planning to toss me into a snow bank again are you?" asked Brian. 

Ken chuckled. "I might ... if you mess up."

Brian spread his hands out. "In that case I accept."

Brian took another sip of wine and asked, "So, Aunt Sharon, what is on the marquee for tonight?"

Sharon replied, "The Christmas Carol." 

"Good," said Brian. "Which one? The one with George C. Scott?"

"Nope," said Sharon. She smiled at him. "Better. Mickey Mouse!"

"Yes!" stated Brian excitedly. "Always loved that one."

Jen laughed. "Oh, please, Brian. His favorite actor is ... "

"Mickey Mouse," said Sharon and Ken in unison.

Jen glanced at her watch. "Brian, I need to take my meds."

Brian rose. "I'll get them."

"In my bag, the gray pouch." 

"Okay," Brian left the kitchen. 

"What do you have for meds?" asked Ken.

"Three different antibiotics for another thirty days. Two different pain killers. One for dull aches like my knees right now and one for when I do not want to feel anything its so powerful. I can't take it. I did once in Florida. I slept for about fifteen hours then could barely think for the next twenty-four. Good thing Mom and dad were there. Then there is the one I refuse to take."

"What?" asked Sharon

"It's a powerful anti-depressant," replied Jen. "In case I find myself getting PTSD." She looked at Ken then Sharon. "I have the prescription but refuse to fill it. She leaned against Ken. "I have my anti-depressant right here ... with family."

Jen glanced up at Ken and he hugged her to him. She then looked back at Sharon, "Which bedroom do you want me in?"

Sharon slowly smiled. "Jennifer, thank-you for asking. But as far as I am concerned, and your parents, you two were married once you accepted the ring." She nodded her head. "You have my permission to ... bunk down together."

Jen smiled at Sharon. "Thank you."

There was the thumping of footsteps coming down the stairs. Brian entered the kitchen with the small gray bag and handed it to Jen. "I put the rest of your stuff in the end bedroom."

Jen snickered. 

"What?" asked Brian. 

"They will be in 'their' room," stated Sharon.

"Oh!" said Brian, surprised.

"Brian," said Jen.

Brian quickly raised his hands waving them at her. "Too much detail for my poor brain."

Jen quickly got out the meds she wanted to take and took them with a couple of sips of wine. She then got up from the chair where she was seated next to Ken and moved over to Brian who stood.

Jen gave Brian a big hug. "Thanks, Brian."

He hugged her back. "Any time, Sis."

"Aunt Sharon," she said stepping over to her. "Thanks for making me feel at home. But... It's been ... a long couple of days and the trip. I'm exhausted. I'm going to have to pass on the movie. Sorry."

Sharon rose and gave her a hug. "Not a problem, Jennifer." She glanced at Ken. "I'll see you two in the morning. If you're up early enough we'll have breakfast at Pam's."

Ken rose. "Jen, can you do the stairs?" He grabbed the gray bag with Jen's meds.




The Conner Family Ch. 01



"I think so."

"I'll be right behind you," stated Ken, following her. "Night Mom, Brian."

Brian said, "Night guys."

"Sleep well," stated Sharon.

*** *** *** *** *** 

Jen walked slowly down the hall from the upstairs bathroom and entered Ken's bedroom. 

She softly closed the door behind her. She was dressed in a light, purple-colored, long legged and long sleeved flannels with matching fluffy slippers. 

Ken, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, rose to stand. "You look toasty warm in those."

Jen smiled. "Actually, since the accident I have been having trouble staying warm." She walked up to him and put her arms about him and rested her head against his chest. 

Ken wrapped his arms about her. 

Jen then suggested, "Maybe you can help me stay warm."

"I can do that."

"Thanks for coming to Florida," said Jen softly. 

"Jen, you do not have to keep thanking me."

Jen hugged him tighter. "I needed you there. I just did not know it, until then. Just ... how much I needed you."

"Just paying you back, Jen."

She looked up at him. "For what?"

"That summer I broke my leg," answered Ken.

"Our, eighth birthday party!" stated Jen. "You fell out of the tree. And I spent a week camping out on your floor." She pointed at a spot beneath the window. "Right over there."

"I needed you here then," said Ken. "And it was two weeks."

Jen hugged him again. "Yeah. I needed to be here to help you then. Like I needed you in Florida." She looked back up at him. "Like I need to be here now. I want to be here ... now ... with you."

Ken could feel a tightness in his chest from the emotions he was feeling. "Jen, I want you here with me. To be a part of my life. To be part of your life."

She looked up at him and smiled. Then she poked him in the chest with her left index finger. "Then it's a good thing I accepted your proposal."

"I don't know what I would have done if you said no."

Jen hugged him. "This explains why everyone was acting so odd today."

"Odd?"

Jen sat down on the bed and she pulled him down beside her. He sat on her left side.

"When I got up and through out the day Brian, Pam and Sue kept looking over at me and whispering. Even Mom and Dad. And when I got near them it was like they were changing the subject." She snorted. "I thought they were talking about my injures."

Ken took her left hand and wrapped his fingers around it. 

Her thumb and finger wrapped with his. "Feels odd," said Jen.

"Which explains the phone calls Mom got," said Ken. "And her going to her room to talk."

She leaned against him.

"Which side would you like?" asked Ken, patting his queen sized bed. 

They were seated on the right side of the bed. "This side I think." 

"And for warmth," said Ken getting up. "I have just the thing." He went over to an old army-green footlocker against the wall near the closet. He opened it and took out a heavy brown colored quilt. 

Jen smiled. "I know that. Picked it up in Italy when we made port. It was my Christmas gift for you."

Ken opened out the quilt and pulled out an envelope that was tucked within the folds. He handed the envelope to Jen.

She took it. "From the Enterprise, when I was assigned to her." She pulled out paper and unfolded it. 

"You sent that to me after my divorce," stated Ken.

Jen read the line she wrote years ago. "May this help keep your heart and soul warm." She looked at him as she handed it back. "I never expected to be sharing it with you."

Jen helped him spread the quilt out over the bed. She ran her right hand across the quilt. "Nice and heavy." She looked up at Ken and smiled. "That ... might keep me warm." She pulled down the quilt, blanket and sheet, sat down and kicked off her slippers revealing dark purple socks.

"Are you purple all the way down?"

Jen smiled. "I have worn Navy Blue and Whites for so long. So yes, my panties and bra are a nice shade of lavender. And my behind is a nasty shade of black and blue and purple."

"What happened?"

"I slipped getting out of the car when we got home last night," explained Jen. "Brian caught me before I hit my head."

"Jen," sighed Ken. He sat on the edge of the bed beside her. "We have to be more careful."

"You mean I have to be more careful," stated Jen. 

"I mean we have to be more careful," repeated Ken. "Until you get your balance and strength back."

"Which may or may not happen."

Ken touched her face. "Then we will do like we always do."

"Watch our step," she stated with a smile and they finished together, "And watch our backs."

"Lay down and roll over," directed Ken.

"What?" asked Jen.

"Lay down and roll over," repeated Ken. "I want to see that bruise."

Jen laid down on the bed then rolled over on to her stomach and looked back up at him and smiled slyly. "You just want to see my ass."

"I've seen your ass!" stated Ken with a big smile. "Many times. Both big fat butt cheeks of it."

"I do not have a fat butt," stated Jen. "And I know you've seen my ass," she returned glancing at his crotch. "Only in Florida, your little soldier looked so much more impressive."

Ken closed his eyes and shook his head. "Florida."

"What?"

Ken looked at Jen. "Mom reminded me ... today ... about that," said Ken. "When your parents walk in on us."

Jen began to laugh then buried her face in the pillow and continued to laugh. The pillow did little to muffle the sound of her laughter. 

Ken suddenly pulled down her pajama pants and her lavender panties.

Jen's laughter got louder.

Ken kept pulling and slipped them down past her feet and off.

*** *** *** *** *** 

Down the hall in the Master Bedroom, Sharon touched the pause button on the remote. "Listen." She looked at Brian who was beside her on the bed watching the movie with her.

Brian cocked his head and then he too could hear Jen's laughter. He turned and smiled at her. "Aunt Sharon, you know, I think that is the first time I have heard Jen really laugh in a long time."

Sharon nodded. "I think she is going to be fine. Actually, I think the both of them are going to be fine."

"I agree," said Brian, holding out the bowl of popcorn. "More popcorn?

"And more Mickey." Sharon got the movie going again and took some popcorn.

*** *** *** *** ***

Ken looked at the bruise on Jen's bare behind. "Not too bad." He ran his hand over the smooth curve of Jen's behind. He then ran his fingers across the long scar on her right butt cheek that ran over to her right side and he knew that it curved around to the front of her hip. That one he remembered had taken a long time to heal. He glanced down her legs and saw the other scars and the large area where the heat of the fire had burned her.

"My butt is getting cold," stated Jen. "Get in here with me."

Ken quickly leaned down and kissed Jen's bare ass on both sides.

Jen began laughing again.

"What's so funny?" asked Ken. 

Jen replied, "All the times I told you to kiss my ass. Now you finally got to do it." 

Ken stood up and dropped his pants and quickly unbuttoned his shirt and shed it and quickly added his underwear to the discarded clothes. He slipped in beside Jen. Then pulled up the covers over both of them. Jen was still on her stomach and he slid over towards her and placing his arm on her back.

Jen asked softly, "Will you undo my bra?"

"I can try," he replied.

"You're such a goof." 

Ken slid his right hand up under the back of her pajama top and slowly rubbed her bare back until he reached the bra clasp. "I think I need two hands." 

"Since when?" asked Jen. 

"Since I have you in my bed," returned Ken as he shifted over and straddle her and placed his crotch against Jen's rear.

Jen wiggled her ass against him. "We are in our bed." 

"Our bed," said Ken. "Jennifer ... "

Jen stopped moving. "Kenneth?"

"Are you sure this is okay?" he asked. "I don't want to hurt you." 

"We'll go slow. I'll be fine. Besides, I asked the doctor during my last physical." Jen then pushed her ass against Ken's groin again, feeling his cock wedge itself between her cheeks. She added, "And that's not my bra." 

Ken pushed against her feeling the hot warmth of her ass against his groin and the tightness about his cock. "Yep. You're right. It's not."

Ken slowly pulled up her flannel top and Jen raised up enough to allow him to pull it over her head then she slid her arms out.

Then with both hands he lightly rubbed her back. He could feel the ripple of the several scars on her right side and the scar of the burn on her lower back that extended around her left side. Then higher up her back the larger scar, which matched the scar on her chest. The strap of her bra lay over that one. Ken easily opened the clasp and beneath him he could feel Jen lift up slightly. 

Slowly Jen slipped it off her arms. Then slowly dropped it to the floor. Then she laid back down.

Ken then went back to rubbing her back.

"That feels so good," said Jen. "After the plane ride and the drive from the airport my back was stiff."

Ken remembered what her back looked like the first time he had changed the dressings. And how sensitive her whole body was. By him doing it, Jen did not have to make the trip into the base hospital twice a day for the two or three hours it would take the staff to do her dressings. It gave her back some sense of control. And then it was only allowed after Ken had displayed his competence to the medical staff. They even came out to Jen's place and monitored them and checked her every other day.

Jen turned to look up at him "Are you going to cry tonight?"

"What?"

"Every time after you changed my dressings and applied the ointments, I heard you, when you went to wash up after wards," said Jen. "But not once did you cry in front of me. I needed you to be brave for me then. And you were." 

Ken leaned over and kissed her cheek. "No crying tonight." Leaning back up he continued to rub her back.

Ken could feel Jen squeeze his groin as she pushed her ass up against him. He leaned down over her again but kept most of his weight on his knees and arms. He kissed her right ear and began to lick her neck and ear.

Jen moaned and turned her head so Ken could reach more of her neck. 

He could feel his cock pushing it's way between the cheeks of Jen's ass.

"Come here," she whispered. "I want to snuggle under the blankets."

Ken moved over and then laid down next her, pulling up the blanket and quilt to cover them. Then he snuggled up beside her.

Jen turned towards him and smiled. "So ... just how long have you been sleeping with the lights on?"

Ken grimaced muttering "Crap!" and got up. 

Jen began laughing again as she watched him go bare ass across the room. "I like the view."

He turned off the overhead light but left the Christmas lights in the window on. 

When he turned, Jen added. "Real nice view."

He quickly slipped back beneath the blankets and slid up to Jen.

Then again he felt bare skin on his leg when he moved against her. She felt so hot against him.

Ken stated, "I thought you were cold."

"I was." Jen said softly, "Roll on to your back."

Ken complied and Jen rolled with him so she was lying on her left side and had her right hand on his bare chest. Where she began to rub him slowly. Then she draped her right leg across his. She moved up slightly and in the soft glow of the Christmas lights she looked down into his eyes. 

"After you went home," said Jen. "It was so lonely down there even with Mom and Dad there. Then I was given an option to fly a desk ashore, I would not be flying again. I would not even be assigned to ship duty again. I would stay in admin, or accept a full medical." Jen kissed him. "I wanted what we had. The closeness. The caring you showed me. I made my decision. I need that feeling of being wanted. Even if it meant my being across town." 

"Being wanted?" asked Ken.

"Yes," said Jen. "That feeling of belonging. And I wanted more. I wanted that feeling to last. And after learning about us today ... I wanted to give you something I could not give before. But now I can."

She used her right hand and took Ken's right and guided it down between her legs. 

Ken's fingers drifted down where Jen directed his hand. He could feel the soft hair surrounding her pussy and he ran his fingers through it.

"I'm letting it grow again," whispered Jen. Her right hand then touched his cock. She rubbed it gently. She smiled. "I see something else is growing."

Ken's fingers moved between Jen's legs and rubbed the lips of her pussy. He could feel his cock quickly hardening. Her lips were coated with moisture as his fingers easily rubbed across the hard nub of her clit then they slipped between her lips.

Jen gasped slightly. "Oh my."

Ken paused what he was doing. Afraid he had hurt her.

Jen whispered. "Don't stop."

Ken continued his slow rubbing of her raised clit. 

"Oh. That is sooo good." Jen suddenly raised her leg and straddled Ken. She held herself up with her right hand while with her left she reached down and encircled Ken's hard cock. Then she began to slowly rub the head against her opening. 

Just her touch made his cock harden even more and it begin to throb. 

"Jen," whispered Ken. He looked up at her. "Are you sure? I can wait."

"I don't want to," whispered Jen as she slowly lowered herself down on him.

Ken could feel her hot moist lips part and then her liquid warmth slowly engulfed him.

"Oh!" she shivered. "Oh, Ken. Oh ... I do want you."

She lowered herself until he was completely surrounded by the tight folds of her pussy. Jen brought her left hand up and ran her index finger down the side of his face and across his lips.

Ken parted his lips and sucked her single finger into his mouth and twirled his tongue about it. He could taste Jen's juices on her finger.

Jen then lowered her face down and brought her lips down to his. "I want to feel you in me." She then kissed him as she began to slowly rock her hips back and forth with Ken's cock riding deep within her.

Soon Jen began to moan as she rocked back and forth pushing her groin down harder onto Ken.

Ken could feel the pulsing walls of Jen's pussy clamping down on him. Gripping him. 

Jen slowly pushed herself up so she could rock further and harder. With each thrust down on him she began to moan. "Oh ... Oh ... Oh."

Ken's cock was getting harder and then he could feel that tingling deep in his groin as he rapidly approached his orgasm. He reached up and gently began to fondle Jen's breasts running his fingers across her left nipple feeling the nipple harden beneath his fingers.

Jen had her eyes closed. "Ooooh yessss," she moaned as she continued rocking.

Ken's left hand held Jen's right breast. He could feel the several wide scars running across it. One of the scars ran across the flattened tip of her breast where her nipple had been. 

Jen suddenly stopped moving. 

Ken looked up into Jen's eyes, afraid he had hurt her.

Jen looked so sad as she looked down at him. There were tears welling up in her eyes. She whispered, "I am so sorry." 

"About what?"

She closed her eyes and whispered. "I'm not ... whole anymore."

Ken released her breasts and reached up to cup her face. He then sat up with Jen still astride him and his cock remained buried within her. The physical need faded with his growing concern. Wrapping his arms about her, he leaned closer and touched her forehead with his.

Ken spoke softly. "You are my best friend." He kissed her right cheek. 

"Ken, I ..."

"Hush," he whispered kissing her on the lips, silencing her words. 

"Jen," he said looking back into her eyes. "If you had died, I am the one who would have been lost. That's why I cried in Florida. Your injuries were very bad. I cried because of what you had to go through. And ... and I could do nothing to ease that."

He kissed her left cheek. 

"You did," said Jen with a sob. "More than you know. Just being there."

Ken pulled her close. "You have been part of me all of my life." He kissed her neck. "I can not let you go. No matter what. ... Not again."

Jen took a deep ragged breath and slowly let it out. "I know. But I..."

"Hush," said Ken. "I have more to tell you."

Jen kissed his cheek. "Okay." She relaxed against him.

"Do you know that over in my footlocker, I have every card and letter you ever wrote to me."

"Really?" Jen asked.

"Including the ones in the four boxes in the closet."

Jen snickered. "I did spend a fortune in stamps. And so did you."

"Make a good start on a stamp collection," said Ken. "Jen, I was so proud of you when you got accepted to Annapolis. And then flight school."

"Did not write much then," muttered Jen

"I know," said Ken. He touched Jen's left hand and brought it up to his face and kissed her palm. "I got a bunch of postcards that just had your name on it." Ken chuckled. "I knew you were busy." He nodded towards the closet. "I have them all."

Jen leaned back and looked at him. "I wanted you to know I was thinking of you." She kissed him. "You always knew what to say. I read every letter, but I had so little time to write. I just sent the cards."

"You know I got more mail from you then I ever got from 'him'." She closed her eyes. "I guess I knew then that it was over."

"Aunt Sharon told me you used up your leave time so you could come to my graduation," she whispered. "You really surprised me then. I was so glad that you were there. It made the day so much more special knowing you were there."

"I was really worried," said Ken. "When you started flying combat missions." Ken kissed her again. "Then when I got the call about your ..."

Jen stopped him with a kiss. "Not now." 

She rocked her hips.

Ken caught his breath as he felt his cock being rubbed by the clinging walls of her pussy. His cock throbbed with the sudden wave of pleasure. 

"You okay?" asked Jen with a sly smile and a sparkle in her eye as she began a slow rocking on his lap.

"Oh Jen," he muttered as that tingling in his groin returned.

Jen continued to rock a little faster and harder with each movement. "I think " she began as she rocked faster against him. She suddenly wrapped her arms about him and pulled herself against him. "I think ... that you .... are in ... " Then the walls of her pussy clamped down upon Ken's cock. And Jen gave out a low soft moan as she held on to him with all her strength as her hips rocked rapidly back and forth. "Tr ... tr ... trouble." Then her body quivered and shook with her orgasm. 

Jen's orgasm caught him by surprise. The clamping of her vaginal walls on him sent him over the edge. He erupted as his hips lurched upward, trying to get himself deeper into Jen. 

Soon their bodies relaxed and they laid down. Jen was on her back as Ken pulled the covers back up over them. "Ken," said Jen softly. 

Ken rolled on to his stomach, preferring to sleep that way. "Yes?"

"I love you so much."

"And I you," replied Ken softly. "You make me feel ... whole."

Jen's voice came back to him, she sounded chocked up. "Me too."

"You okay?" he asked, looking at her in the soft glow of the Christmas lights.

"I am now, Ken," said Jen from beside him as she looked at him she took his hand, pulled it up to her chest and held it. "Hold me," she whispered. 

Ken moved over so that his head was on her pillow and his forehead was touching her face. He whispered softly, "I love you, Jennifer."

"Love you too." Jen then took a deep breath and let it out. "I am okay now. You're here." Jen took a another deep breath and let it out. "Ken, remember that kiss on the doorstep after that movie?"

"When we were 17," he answered. "I do."

"I had to kiss you just once ... like we were on a date, Like ... like others did when they loved someone. I needed to know what it was like with you." 




The Conner Family Ch. 01



Ken soon felt Jen's breathing become slow and steady. He knew she was asleep. They had slept like this much of the time while she recovered. It was the only way she would sleep, the only way she felt safe. They never did anything beyond her holding his hand. It had never crossed his mind to do anything with Jen, even towards the end of his stay when she was feeling better. Then there was that day when her parents came down that second time. And it had been time for him to return home. 

He remembered that it was a long lonely trip back home. He had gotten her a cell phone and gave it to her as a parting gift. They talked several times each day. He even adjusted his schedule around hers so he never missed when she called.

Ken thought of how lucky he was and how much in love he was with Jen, and he remained awake for just a while longer, thinking of how fortunate to have someone like Jen in love with him and willing to share her life with him. 

"I love you, Jen," he whispered. 

He laid there, holding her hand, watching her breath, until he too fell asleep, in the soft glow of the blinking Christmas lights.

*** *** *** *** *** 

The news was playing softly on the TV. 

Sharon looked over at Brian. 

He was sound asleep he had not lasted through the whole movie. 

Sharon got up and got an extra blanket and covered him. 

She then went to the small room next door. Her craft room. She went to the closet and unlocked the safe and took out the top folder. It contained, she knew the transplant testing results for the entire family when they were all tested in case Jen needed a kidney. She looked down the results of the first two pages. They were an excellent match for a donation Jennifer and Kenneth. No one else in the family even came close to being an acceptable match. Jen and Ken's results were close enough that they appeared to be from the same family and that of close siblings.

She sighed. We always thought this was possible. 

Sharon glanced at the time. It was only 9:42 PM. She picked up her cell phone and speed dialed. "Hi Karen. ... Their all asleep. Brian fell asleep during the movie. ... You should have heard Jen laughing tonight. ... Like the old days. ... Yeah, she sounded good. ... Of course they are together. Did you expect anything else? ... I think your ring really helped them accept that we are all okay with this. ... Of course I'll let them stay here. ... As long as they want. That file. ... Yeah, that one. ... I am bringing it over tomorrow. ... Rather have it with you. ... No reason for them to stumble on it. ... Or learn what it means. ... They are both smart enough to figure that out. ... Sounds like the kids are still up. ... Yep. Typical Christmas Eve. ... You what? ... They did? ... Sounds like a Conner plan to me. ... See you tomorrow. All of us. The whole family again."

The End

"A Gift On Christmas Eve"

The Conner Family -- Ch 01 



The Conner Family Ch. 02



Chapter 02

"Gifts On Christmas Morning" 

Continued from the story "The Conner Family -- Ch 01 - "A Gift On Christmas Eve." I strongly suggest that you read that one first. Then this one will make sense. -- Rugrat60 

Jennifer Ann Conner opened her eyes and looked into a room that was in semi-darkness lit only by the soft glow of blinking Christmas lights of different colors. She was laying on her right side and she was holding on to Ken's arm with her left hand. Then she felt the hot warmth of Ken's body spooned behind her shift a little, then there was a deep intake of air followed by a warm breath which she felt on the back of her neck. It was then she felt his hand resting upon her bare right breast move. Then his fingers suddenly flexed and then relaxed. It was a nice feeling.

She too took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she smiled into the darkness. 

Then her thoughts turned to the past few months and her smile faded. She glanced at the clock on the small side table next to the bed. The time was 2:38 AM. Jen was not surprised that she had woken up, as she had done so for months as it was the time when the mild painkillers would usually wear off.

Her smile returned as she realized that it was Christmas Morning. And she was home.

She thought of the man behind her, who held on to her in her sleep. Then she remembered that she was in bed with her life long best friend. Now her lover. And now, her soon to be, future husband. The last two occurring the same day. She smiled again. With the prodding of their parents and family. Well the proposal anyways.

And it's Christmas Morning, she thought happily.

It had been hard those first couple of months after the accident and then the long seemingly unending days of her recovery. But she, as she had been taught by her parents, thought of certain events as gifts. Even if they did not seem so at the time. Of course it only took her until now to think of anything concerning her accident a gift. 

The first gift she thought of was of her cousin Ken taking care of her for those long months. Her best friend was there when she needed him. Only now they were not really cousins, both had been adopted. That fact did not change how she felt about him. It only opened up other options.

There was Ken's gift of his unending friendship and unconditional love. That's two and three she said to herself.

Ken's left hand upon her breast felt real nice. Another gift that she was still alive to feel his hand upon her body. That was four.

His arm about her made her feel safe. That was number five. Another rare gift in today's world, thought Jen, remembering her years in the Navy as a fighter pilot. Knowing that Ken was a man whom she could and did trust completely. More so than she had with her ex-husband who had abandoned her.

No! Jen told herself. Not today. Only good thoughts today, she told herself. It's Christmas.

Ken was behind her with his naked body touching her skin, which made her feel wanted. That was number six she counted.

Jen again felt the soft whisper of his breathing on her neck and she did not know why, but it made her feel special. Perhaps because he wants to sleep this close to me. Another gift. That's seven she told herself.

Jen gently lifted her left hand up off of Ken's arm and with her forefinger and thumb she touched the necklace about her neck tracing down it until she felt the ring and cross. With her remaining fore finger and thumb she lifted them so they glinted in the blinking Christmas lights before her eyes. She had parents who had enough love in their hearts to adopt her. Number eight, she thought.

Her brother Brian and cousins came to mind. Nine was family.

The simple gold band, which hung on the necklace, given by her father to her mother as her engagement ring, then it was given to Ken to give to her. The gift of history. That's ten, she whispered. 

And with the ring Ken had given her the promise of his love. Eleven.

She paused in her thoughts as she laid the necklace back down on her chest and placed her hand back on Ken's arm. She wondered what was number twelve. There was, after all, always twelve, the song says there is, she told herself.

Ken's arm tightened about her slightly then relaxed as he shifted about behind her but never left the spoon position.

Jen wondered what their future would bring in their life together. 

She suddenly smiled. Twelve, she thought. Taking a deep breath and letting it out as she closed her eyes and relaxed. Christmas Gift Twelve, A Future.

Ken's hand began lightly tracing circles across her right breast. The nipple might be gone, but the soft touch of his hand was ... sensual a gift. Made more so because Ken looked beyond the scars. 

She felt the soft brush of his lips on the back of her neck. Part of her mind was still counting. Fourteen. 

Followed by his tongue making a moist trail across the back of her neck that sent a shiver down her spine. Fifteen or sixteen? Jen asked herself enjoying the sensations.

Ken's left hand moved and lightly dragged his fingertips across her chest to her left breast and pinched her left nipple. Twenty said her mind as she lost herself in the feelings of pleasure her body was giving her. 

Thirty she breathed as Ken's hardening cock made its presence known in the crevice of her ass.

Thirty-five counted her mind as she felt moisture begin to gather within her folds. 

Thirty-six was another kiss on the side of her neck.

As Ken bit gently on the side of her neck, she shuddered and felt her vaginal walls contract. 

Ken's left hand then cupped her left breast and squeezed, pressing in on the hardened nipple. Defiantly forty, counted her mind.

"You okay," he asked softly into her ear.

"Yes," she hissed, as he sank the tip of his tongue into her ear then Ken bit down gently. 

A soft moan escaped her lips as her mind continued to count. I think that's .... that's forty-one or two. Maybe three?

He kissed her neck then licked as he squeezed her left breast again. "Oh," was all she could mutter. Her mind called out, "Fifty!"

Jen took a ragged breath and asked softly, "How'd you know I was awake?"

"I taught myself," he whispered, "to monitor your breathing. In case you woke up from the pain. Or you needed help." He kissed her neck again. "Or," he nipped at her neck again, "just needed someone to talk to." 

"You did that?" she questioned, remembering that during the months of recovery, Ken had always been there whenever she needed him. Even when she awoke with pain and she remained silent. He was there. 

"Anything for you, Jennifer Ann." He then dragged his tongue down her neck to her shoulder and sucked upon her flesh.

She smiled. Sixty.

Jen gave out a long shuddering gasp as she reached up with her left hand and held Ken's face, as somewhere in the back of her mind she heard herself count. "Seventy-five!"

Suddenly there were fingers rubbing over her clit and Jen could not help but rock herself against those fingers.

Then those probing fingers dipped within her moist, slippery folds and she quickly began to feel that wonderful full filling as her vaginal walls clamped down on the invading fingers. Then those fingers began to rub on that wonderful inner spot. It did not take her long to climax. It was not a big climax, but it was enough to be satisfying. "One Hundred!" her mind called out.

Ken's hand, still wet, had returned to cup her right breast. She could still feel his hardened cock poking between her cheeks as Ken pulled her back into the spoon position. 

"Ken?" she whispered as she tried to roll over. 

But Ken held her in place. "No, I'm fine. I'd rather snuggle right now." 

"But?" she asked.

As he snuggled up behind her again, Ken whispered into her ear, "We have time now, Jennifer Ann."

"I like when you call me that," she whispered.

Then Jen could feel another kiss on the back of her neck.

Ken whispered softly, "Jennifer Ann, I love you so much." 

"Love you," she whispered in response.

Then his breath was again on the back of her neck. 

And there was the security of his arm around her, which she held a little tighter to her chest.

She closed her eyes and as she drifted off to sleep, her mind called out. "One Thousand!" 

The End



The Conner Family Ch. 03



Chapter 03

Nightmares Of A Broken Promise

It was a beautiful day, thought Navy Captain Jennifer Ann Conner as she sat looking up at the nearly clear blue sky on this mid May morning. Yes, a good day to go flying, she decided. She snorted. Any day was a good day to fly. Except during thunderstorms, she corrected herself. 

That was not fun at all she had to admit thinking of her previous experiences. Like landing on a pitching carrier deck, during a thunderstorm, at night. That was more of a nightmare, she thought shaking her head, remembering the three times she had to do that.

She sighed. Conner felt refreshed and relaxed after four weeks of leave at home. She had then returned to Florida for training on some new upgraded electronics on the Navy's jet fighters.

She wiggled in her seat to make sure the straps were all tight and secure. She took a deep breath, testing the airflow through the mask. Then she scanned the instruments again. Good to go, she thought.

She was sitting in her F-18 Hornet waiting for the tower to give them clearance to take off. They were currently on hold, waiting on the runway for the cross traffic to land, a flight of eight newly assigned Hornets and then a carrier transport. And only two of the eight Hornets had landed. They were spread out about two to four minutes apart.

Must be new-bies, she thought.

She looked down the runway and watched the heat generated mirages shimmer. The air-conditioned cockpit helped against the early spring heat wave.

"Diamond Two to Diamond One," came the male voice of her wing-man, Horse. Who went with the real name of Lieutenant Commander Chuck Cooper.

"Diamond One," she replied. "What's up, Horse?"

"If they keep us here much longer, we're going to need a refueling."

Conner smiled. "Yep, I hear you." She again glanced at her fuel gauges. "If we go below three quarters. We scrub."

"Yeeeah," returned Horse slowly. "I do so hate flying on fumes."

"I hear ya," sighed Conner, darkly remembering that one landing she had made with low fuel. Their refueling tanker had to return to the carrier due an engine problem. The backup tanker wasn't even on the flight deck. So, as they approached the carrier she had the members of her squadron line up according to how much fuel they had, with lowest first. 

Then, after landing last on the carrier, the engines of her fighter had cut out before she could taxi down the flight deck. 

Another male voice spoke up, "Hey boss, I think there's an SP out here writing us a parking ticket." 

Conner snickered, her dark memories evaporating. That was Horse's RIO or Radar Intercept Officer also called the weapon's officer, Lt. Frank Davis.

A female voice came from behind her. "Last time we waited this long we got booted." It was Conner's RIO, Lt. Alice Sweet.

"How'd you pay the fine?" asked Davis.

Sweet replied, "I traded in Horse's, jeep."

There was a burst of laughter. "So that's were my jeep went," said Horse.

"Tower to Diamond Flight, cut the chatter."

Conner chuckled. Her thoughts went to how well the four of them worked as a team. The other half of her squadron, the other two Hornet crews would be flying this afternoon. Why they were not all flying together was up to Command. And they did not explain.

"Sweet, you all set back there?" asked Conner, looking up into the small mirror to see the helmeted head of Sweet, sitting behind her in the cramped confines of the cockpit of the Hornet. 

Sweet gave her a thumbs-up saying, "All set, Bitch." She then chuckled "I really love that name."

Conner smiled. "So do I." 

"What a pair," said Sweet. "Bitch and Sweet."

Conner chuckled. "We do okay." `Bitch.' That was her call sign once she was in the fighter. Distinctive individual call signs were becoming tough to get. She had picked hers after her flight instructor had told her that if she would settle down and listen to him and paid real good attention she would be a `bitch' of a pilot. 

She did. And she was. Attested to her by her twenty three years of service, having the rank of Captain, the 346 successful combat missions and her high carrier rating.

She smiled. Remembering that one for real dog fight she had been involved in. 

It had involved the three out of four Iranian fighter jets that penetrated too close to the Carrier Group when they entered the Carrier's protective bubble. It was while she and Horse were flying air patrol during their last deployment in the Arabian Sea. It had occurred at their closest approach to Iran, two hundred miles off shore in international waters. 

The approaching Iranian pilots had been repeatedly warned off, she remembered, and she had even buzzed them. Yet all four pilots had stayed on course, straight towards the carrier. And she had verified that all four were loaded with missiles and other ordnance. 

Then she got the go to splash any of them that went past the 100-mile limit. The entire Carrier Group had gone on high alert. 

Meanwhile the Carrier was scrambling other jets for intercept. No one was taking a chance of a suicide-minded pilot, never mind four of them, getting within range of any of the ships. 

She did as ordered. 

Conner remembered that it had been an interesting few minutes, that dogfight. Even before they had crossed the 100-mile line she got up behind the fighters and Sweet got a weapons lock on the lead fighter. She then gave them one last verbal warning. 

Which, they ignored. 

Then they crossed the line.

The rear Iranian pilot decided to take her and Horse on, or was ordered to. And he made the mistake of attempting to loop around over them. Perhaps he did not think a female pilot could or would even dare go against him. 

Conner didn't wait and launched a missile at the lead Iranian jet that was already painted as a target. 

She remembered that at the same time she had ordered Horse to take the single jet while she went after the other two who increased speed. 

The three remaining Iranian jets split up and she went after the closest fighter. Sweet was quickly able to get a lock and Conner launched another missile after it. 

Then, not waiting, Conner turned after the third. 

The lead Iranian jet became a flaming fireball that spiraled down into the sea. 

"One down," stated Sweet.

"Two down," reported Horse.

Conner continued chasing the remaining Iranian.

"Confirmed, three down," stated Sweet.

"Paint his ass, Sweet," said Conner, staying with that last racing Iranian as he bobbed up and down and twisted about, trying to keep her from getting a weapons lock. She kept after him. 

"He's good," muttered Sweet.

Then Conner heard the tone indicating target lock at the same time she saw it on the heads-up display and she fired a third missile. 

"But we're better," returned Conner as she took their fighter in a tight turn to stay with the Iranian. 

Ahead of her the Iranian did a triple roll trying to throw her off and the missile.

But, still she kept after him. That pilot really began to twist and dodge trying to both avoid getting hit and to get closer to the Carrier. 

"I have a lock," reported Sweet. 

Conner was ready to fire off a second missile at the remaining fighter when there was a sudden burst of flame and smoke from the rear of that last jet. Then there was a secondary explosion as the jet's fuel tanks added to the explosion about five hundred yards ahead of them.

Flaming wreckage rained down into the sea.

"Still at 71 miles," reported Sweet.

"Secure weapons," ordered Conner.

"Nice," came Horse's voice. "Coming up on your left. Bitch."

She looked over at him and he had his thumb up.

"Tango Flight to Home Plate," she reported, "The Bitch says the sky is clear. Four splashed. Repeat four splashed."

Her wing man `Horse' made sure the entire ship knew she had splashed three of the bad guys before they had returned.

Then `Bitch' and company got a nice reception on their return. It was not like the movie with Tom Cruise in `Top Gun.' No music or a mob of crew-members rushing across the busy flight deck, but it was okay.

It never bothered her either, killing those pilots. She was doing her duty. She was protecting the ships and the thousands of her fellow crew-members in the Carrier Group. For whatever reason, those Iranian pilots had been just dumb ass stupid to think of even attempting to get near the group. 

The event only made a splash on the news because of the complaint filed by the Iranian Government to the United Nations against the unwarranted aggression by the United States Navy. 

Three weeks later she was promoted to Captain.

Then a month ago, when the Carrier Group returned home, her wing was transferred to a Naval base in Florida for more training on new electronics. She and her group took four weeks of leave and went home. And now, today, she was flying and would have the fun of dropping some laser-guided ordinance on a well-used target range. 

If we ever get permission to take off, she muttered to herself, as she watched the eighth fighter land.

About two minutes later, the cargo plane landed.

"Tower, Diamond Flight you are clear for takeoff."

Conner focused back on today and checked her fuel. Still above the three quarters. "Horse, how's your fuel?"

"Fuel good, Bitch."

"Tower, this is Bitch in Diamond One, commencing take off. Horse, you with me?"

"Ready, Bitch."

"Diamond Flight commencing roll in three ... two ... one." With that Conner got the jet rolling at full power and the Hornet roared down the runway.

She loved the feeling of power and the acceleration of takeoff.

It did not take long before she reached speed and eased the fighter jet up off the runway. At twenty feet she got the landing gear up. When they were locked she brought the jet into a steeper climb. "Beginning climb." 

Behind her Sweet said, "Nice takeoff. Better than a catapult."

"Yeah," agreed Conner. "But the catapult is such a rush."

"Oh! Yeah," agreed Sweet. 

"Yep! Nothing like a carrier launch," added Horse.

Sweet then stated, "Diamond Flight maintain course at zero twenty five degrees. Stand by for course change at angels 15 to one niner five."

"Roger that." stated Conner. 

"Diamond Two, roger," said Horse.

Conner scanned the instruments again and was satisfied all was well. Her fuel was good for this short flight and return.

It was then Conner spotted the large flock of birds. "Birds!" she called out a second before they flew through the flock. There were several impacts felt. Suddenly the windscreen before her splintered and cracked with blood, feathers and red gore. 

"Shit!" she muttered. The windscreen held together but she could not see through it. The jet seemed to shudder and stall in its climb.

Alarms began to sound off in the cockpit.

"Diamond flight," she called out as she scanned the instruments. "Horse, stay clear we might be dropping parts."

Horse said, "Left rear low, going high. We're good, Bitch."

"Horse. I'm blind my windscreen's shattered and covered with bird."

Sweet called out. "Engine two is out. Attempting restart."

Then there were two more sudden loud jolts. The fighter shuddered through its airframe.

Another alarm sounded off.

Sweet called out again. "Engine one out. Both down. No restart on two. Attempting restart on one."

"Bitch," called Horse. "Your loosing fuel from your left engine."

"Sweet, cancel restart on one," snapped Conner, knowing that her leaking right engine could explode if restarted. She and Sweet could end up dead real quick.

"Roger, restart canceled," repeated Sweet. "Attempting restart on engine two."

Conner scanned her instruments. They had yet to reach 5,000 feet. She was loosing speed fast. "Diamond One, to tower. I had a Bird Strike. Say again Bird Strike. Lost both engines. We are a rock."

"Roger Diamond One. Turn right to one seven zero for emergency approach."

Sweet reported, "No restart on two."

"Negative return, Tower," stated Conner. "Repeat we are a rock." She glanced in the mirror. "Sweet, find me a clear spot. Make it a big one." 

Conner scanned her instruments again. They were already loosing altitude and their speed was still dropping. 

"Negative restart engine two," reported Sweet. "There! The golf course, to your left beyond the school and the trees."

Conner looked. "Anything closer?" 

"There's the lake, to your right," stated Sweet.

Horse stated, "Bitch, I think the lake is too far. You'll end up in a housing project."

"Roger, Horse." Conner asked again, "Anything else?"

"Behind us, the runway," suggested Sweet.

Conner glanced at her speed and altitude. They were already down to 4,620 feet and dropping fast. "Never make it."

"The highway?" questioned Sweet. 

"Can you see it?" demanded Conner. "Traffic?"

Frank Davis stated, "The highway east is a parking lot."

Horse's voice came to her. "Negative, Bitch. West has too many cars, bridges and other obstacles"

"Golf course it is." Conner eased the jet to the left and aimed towards the golf course beyond the bases' elementary school. "Tower, Diamond One we are going down. Aiming for the golf course. Horse, still can't see, give me a heading."

"Tower, Roger Diamond One. Rescue trucks on the way."

Horse's voice came to her. "Bitch, another ten left."

She watched her compass and eased the jet left. 

"Looking good, Bitch."

Conner glanced up to the mirror. "Sweet! Eject! Eject! Eject!"

"See you on the ground!" stated Sweet.

Then there was the noise as the canopy blew off and the rush of wind. Followed rapidly by the sound of the ejection seat leaving the jet. 

Then it was surprisingly quiet.

"Diamond Two, Tower, Diamond One, has one ejection. Rear seat," said Horse. "Ejected over the base theater."

"Tower, Roger Diamond Two. Diamond One has rear seat eject. Base theater."

Conner kept looking for a better place to put the jet down. "Horse."

"Here, Bitch."

"Still can't see. How's my heading?"

"Go five right, heavy woods then the golf course."

"Thanks, Horse," replied Conner as she made a course correction.

Just then the wind blew some of the gore off the windscreen and she was able to see somewhat through the remains of her windscreen. Conner glanced at the instruments. The jet was dropping too fast.

She began looking at the golf course beyond the wide band of trees, too far she thought and started to look for something closer. 

The parking lot before the school? 

Nope, she thought, knowing that after impact the jet would explode and the flaming wreckage and ordnance would likely plow right into the crowded school. 

"The school parking lot," suggested Horse.

"Negative. I'll end up in a classroom," stated Conner. "Not going to be responsible for killing a bunch of kids." 

"You're right," came Horse's voice. "I don't see anyplace else."

Looks like I'm going to ride you in, she thought, knowing that she could eject and let the jet fall wherever and do whatever in damage. But Conner also knew she just could not let that happen. She was responsible. Her sense of duty and up bringing would not let her. 

Bitch indeed, she told herself.

"Golf course," she stated. "Horse, how's my heading?"

"Heading good. Losing altitude too fast."

She worked with the controls and got the jet heading down to gain some speed. Then she pulled up some and she cleared the school at about 310 feet. Then she spotted the trees and the homes beyond. Nope not doing that either, she decided. 

"Houses," she muttered.

Horse directed, "Bank ten right, Bitch."

"Got it." She banked to the right away from the homes and brought the nose of the jet down sharply and then she had the nose pointed at the edge of the tree line. "Thanks, Horse."

Then she was only seconds from impacting. 

Conner ejected.

She was pushed down into the seat as she left the fighter. Then it was quiet.

Conner watched as her fighter jet vanished into the trees with a roar of an explosion and a ball of fire erupted. She was already out of the seat and the parachute was opening. She knew she was too close to the ground. Looking down she watched as the black cloud of smoke and flame rolled up towards her. There was nothing she could do. 

She muttered, "Sorry, Mom." 

There was a large explosion.

The boiling ball of flames engulfed her.

Then the concussion wave hit.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** 

Mid January the following year. 

It was now nine months after the accident.

Ken woke to a scream and Jen was thrashing about in the bed. 

"Jen! Jen!" He touched her arms. "Jen! Wake up!"

Her left arm came up and caught his nose hard. Blood began to flow. 

"Jen!" he called.

Jen's eyes popped open and she looked up at him. "Oh, Ken," she sobbed. Sitting up she threw herself into his arms. She was breathing heavily. Crying softly.

There was a knock on the door. "Jen? Ken you okay?"

Ken sniffed trying to stop the blood to no avail. "Come in, Mom."

Sharon Conner opened the door and in the blinking Christmas lights saw Jen and Ken sitting up in bed naked. Jen was huddled in his arms.

"Light, Mom," said Ken.

Sharon flipped the switch and the overhead light came on. Then she saw the blood. "Who's hurt?" she asked stepping towards them.

"Me," replied Ken, "My nose."

Sharon turned and left the room.

Ken could feel Jen take a deep shuddering breath as she clung to him. He asked, "That dream again?"

Jen just nodded her head.

"That's the third time now," said Ken.

"I know," whispered Jen. She took another ragged breath.

Sharon came back in and sat on the end of the bed and handed Ken a washcloth. "Ice in there."

Ken nodded. "Thanks." Then he placed the ice pack against his nose.

Jen leaned away from him. "Did I do that?' It was then she realized she was naked and tried to cover herself up. "Sorry."

Sharon picked up Jen's pajama top from the end of the bed and handed it to her. "I've seen your birthday suit before. So, what's this about nightmares?"

Jen quickly slipped the pajama top on and pulled the blankets up to cover her legs. She then turned to Ken. "Did I hit you?"

"It was the dream, Jen. Not you."

"I am so sorry," sobbed Jen.

Ken touched her face with his free hand, "Jen, not your fault." He leaned toward her and kissed her forehead then placed his forehead on hers. Jen took a couple of deep breaths and visibly relaxed. 

"Would you two like to join me for some hot chocolate?" Sharon looked at Jen.

Jen turned to her and nodded. "That would be nice." 

Sharon nodded. "Down stairs or over in my room? We can watch something really stupid."

Jen gave her a bit of a smile. "I could use really stupid right now."

"Good." Sharon got up and walked towards the door. "Remember house rules. No bare butts in the theater."

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** 

Jen sat on a chair after putting on her pajama bottoms. Ken, whose nose had stopped bleeding, had a sweat suit on and had just finished changing the sheets and pillow that he had dribbled blood on. There was more blood than he thought. He did not have an extra pillow. 

Jen looked over at him. "I am sorry."

"I know." He looked at her. "Jennifer Ann, not your fault."

She stood and went over to him. "I find that I still depend on you for so much." She rose up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Now you rescue me from my nightmares. How can I ever thank you?"

"Well, tomorrow how about some of your beef stew?"

"Is that all you want?" she smiled at him.

"Can I share your pillow?"

Jen stepped up to him and gave him a hug. "Of course you can. You make me feel ... so loved. How do you put up with me?"

Ken hugged her. "Jen, you are the world to me." He kissed the top her head. "I will help you through this."




The Conner Family Ch. 03



"Jennifer, we will all help you through this," said Sharon from the door. She was holding a tray with mugs on it. "And I know someone who can help. Someone I trust. He's over at the V.A." She looked at them for a moment. "He ... helped me after Robert died. I called their emergency line and he had an opening. So you have an appointment tomorrow at eleven." She paused then added. "I can cancel it if you wish."

Jen looked up at Ken.

"I'll go with you."

"I will too," stated Sharon. "And I think your Mom and Dad are free tomorrow morning."

Jen just nodded her head. 

"Alright," said Sharon. "And I'll take us all out to lunch afterward."

Jen leaned against Ken and sighed. "Okay." She looked up at him then turned to Sharon and stated, "Only because Kenneth needs his beauty sleep."

"What?" asked Ken.

Sharon began to chuckle and turned towards her room. "Well come on, I'm not going to drink all this coco myself."

Jen took Ken's hand and pulled him towards the door. "Come along, Sweetheart, time for something really stupid."

"I need beauty sleep?"

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** 

The following morning:

Jennifer Ann Conner was sitting in an office on a small couch. With her on the couch to her right was Ken, whose hand she held. Next to the end of the couch on her left was a chair where her Mom, Karen Conner, was sitting next to her. On her Mom's left was Sam Conner, Jen's father. Her Aunt Sharon was sitting in another chair at the other end of the couch.

The couch and chairs formed a small semi-circle so everyone could see each other.

Across from Jen was seated Doctor Philip Adams, who was wrapping up her session as he glanced at the notes he had taken. His dark blue Navy uniform and stripes indicated that he was a Captain.

"You've had this dream three times now, correct," asked Adams.

"Yes, Sir," replied Jen.

"Jen, do I have to get all formal here? Please, here in the office, Philip or Phil. Besides you were just recently discharged. Correct?"

Jen nodded. 

Adams asked, "That comment you made just before the fireball got to you, what was that about?"

"I thought of my Mom."

Karen reached over and took Jen's left hand and held it.

"But why that particular comment?" asked Adams. "What was it again you said?"

Jen tightened her grip on Ken's hand and glanced at Karen. "I said, `Sorry Mom'." She turned back to face Adams again.

Adams looked over at her and asked, "Why did you feel sorry?"

Jen turned back to her mother, as her grip on Ken's hand got a little tighter. "Mom," she said. "You were there. You and Aunt Sharon took me to the airport after my leave." She turned to Ken. "You had left for Atlanta a couple of days before."

Ken nodded.

Jen looked beyond Karen to her father. "Dad, you were at that Safety Training Meeting."

Sam Conner nodded.

Jen looked back to Karen. "You remember Mom, you asked me to keep my promise."

Karen nodded. "I do." Jen could feel her mother's fingers tighten about her hand.

Jen looked over at Ken then turned to face Adams. "When I first joined the Navy, my Mom made me promise to always be careful and to come back home." 

Karen said softly, "We have a strong military tradition in our family." 

"I made Ken make that same promise to me when he joined the Army," stated Sharon.

"Our father," began Karen, "did the same and kept his promise every time he went on tour."

"As did my Dad," added Ken. 

Jen squeezed Ken's hand again. 

"And my dad and my brother," continued Jen.

"And Pam and Sue," added Sharon. "My daughters. And we, Jen's Mom and I, we both made the same promise to our Mother."

Ken said softly, looking at Jen, "We promised our Moms to be careful and to come home."

Jen looking back at Ken added, "And to our Dads we always promised to do our duty with honor."

"So," said Adams, "you think you broke this promise to your Mother."

Jen nodded. "I do."

"But your here, Sweetheart," said Karen. She lifted Jen's left hand up that she held. "This matters, but not the way you think. You're home. You did your duty."

"With honor, Jennifer," stated Sam. "We are all very proud of you."

Jen looked over at Sam. "Thanks, Dad."

"Me too," said Ken.

Jen turned to look at Ken. "I know."

Adams looked up from his notes. "So, Jen, how do you feel about your injuries?" 

Jen turned to him and straightened up. "You can not know how I feel, ... Sir."

"I think I do," stated Adams. He reached down and pulled up his pant legs to reveal two metal artificial legs. "Flight Deck accident during Desert Storm." He let the pant legs drop and looked up at Jen. "I have been where you are now. And like you I was fortunate to have family who were there for me. But unlike you my girlfriend at the time could not handle this." He tapped his legs. "But, later I did meet someone who could." 

"Jen, if I may direct a comment to Ken?" asked Adams.

"Of course, ... Phil."

"Thank you," said Adams, nodding to her. "Ken, you are a remarkable man to be able to look at Jen and not see the injuries."

"I do see them," stated Ken. "I do not ignore them. But Jen has been and is my best friend. And I hope that I see both her strengths and weaknesses."

Jen spoke up. "Ken came down to Florida and stayed with me for ninety-seven days." She looked at Phil Adams. "He changed my dressings, helped me to wash up and helped me to dress." She paused. "And yes he helped me go to the bathroom too." Jen squeezed Ken's hand as she continued. "He pushed me everyday, making me do a little more every day. Making me work towards my recovery." She paused again and turned to look at Ken. "Then he would do his computer consulting over the internet for a few hours while I rested. And the entire time he was a perfect gentleman."

Adams glanced at the older Conners. 

Sam Conner spoke up. "Not once did I ever question Ken's behavior with my daughter." He looked over at Jen and Ken. "Nor do I question how they feel for each other."

Karen spoke up. "And we all, the entire family is behind their decision to marry. And we will support them."

Adams nodded and smiled. "Jen, I want you to remember what your parents and your aunt and Ken have said here today." He glanced down at his notes then back up at her. "So I am not going to schedule another session with you, unless you think you need to."

"I thought it would take several meetings," stated Jen surprised.

"What about her nightmares?" asked Ken.

"No," replied Adams. "Jen, you are fine. I think what your family said today will help ease how you feel about what happened. You did your duty with courage and honor, Captain Conner." He held up his hand. "And yes you have done more than survive what happened to you. You are moving on and living your life." He gestured to Ken. "And planning your future."

"Thank you, Phil," stated Jen.

"And in answer to your question, Ken," stated Adams. "Jen, before you go to bed to sleep, just tell yourself you will not have that nightmare."

"That simple?" asked Ken. 

Adams shook his head. "It's not simple, because Jen, you have to believe what you tell yourself. But in about eighty-five percent of the time, it is that simple. And if you want to think about something, or dream about something, think about all the people on the ground you saved that day, because of the decisions you made and the actions you took."

Jen nodded. "I will, Phil. And thank you."

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** 

Later that night, Jen, dressed in her purple colored flannel pajamas and slippers, closed the door to their bedroom and she looked over at Ken who was sitting up on the bed dressed in a dark blue sweat suit. She stepped towards the bed.

"You are not going to have that dream," directed Ken, pointing at her.

Jen stopped halfway to the bed. "How many times are you going to tell me that?"

Ken snickered and pointed at her again. "Until you get it into your head."

"Takes a bit being thick headed," said Jen as she went over to the bed and sat down next to him. "Ya' get that from being a Navy fighter pilot."

Ken snorted. "You have to be thick headed to marry me."

Jen poked him in the ribs. "Goof!"

Ken smirked. "I have to be to marry you."

Jen pouted and slapped his arm.

Ken leaned over and kissed her on the lips. "Love you too."

Jen reached up and held him as she kissed him back. After several moments she leaned back from him. "How long has it been?"

"Since your accident?" asked Ken.

Jen shook her head. "No. Since I moved in."

"Today is the twentieth of January. You moved in on Christmas Eve. So ... almost a month now," replied Ken. "Why?"

Jen leaned against him and sighed. "After lunch. After we dropped my parents off." She looked up at Ken. "I could not wait to get home. Not across town. But here with you."

Ken put his right arm around her. "I can't imagine you not being here."

"I know." Jen snuggled against him. She took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm glad I'm here."

"Me too, Jen." Ken hugged her. "I'm sorry that you had that accident that got you here."

Jen snuggled against him. "Ken, I know that." She sat up and turned to look at him. "If I did not ..." she sighed. "I would most likely be on another deployment." She snorted. "Working my way up towards making Admiral."

"Jen," said Ken. "I am sorry you had to go through what you did."

Jen looked up at him, "Ken, I know." She leaned towards him and kissed him. "Knowing what I do now, I would gladly go through it again. As long as you were there. To be with you."

"Jen...." muttered Ken looking at her.

"Do not worry about the what might have been," said Jen. "Worry about what is. And what we are going to do now."

Ken smiled. "You always were smarter." 

"Course I am." She poked him. "Always was too."

"Except that camping trip when we were sixteen," stated Ken. 

Jen shook her head. "You are not going to let me forget that are you."

"Not ever," replied Ken. "You running down the trail and fell over a stupid pile of pine cones and twisted both your ankles." 

They both laughed. 

Jen looked at Ken and stopped laughing. "Then you picked me up and put me on your back. And then carried me three and half miles back to camp."

"I could have left you there for the bugs."

As she made a face at him, Ken kissed her.

Suddenly Jen broke the kiss. "We have not talked much about the wedding."

"Yeah," agreed Ken, as he kissed her forehead. "Mom and your parents already treat us like an old married couple."

Jen snickered. "Brian too. And Pam and Sue. Just yesterday Brian mentioned something about us moving."

"Moving?" asked Ken. "Like to where?"

"He mentioned," replied Jen, "that there was a house for sale next to my parents."

Ken sighed. He gestured towards the bedroom door. "What about my Mom?" 

"I know," replied Jen. "And I like being here. Your Mom is wonderful."

Ken snorted pointing at the bedroom door again. "She's waiting for more grand kids."

"She does know that I can't have a baby?" asked Jen. "Right?"

"She does," replied Ken. "Last Friday adoption came up at dinner. Remember?"

Jen chuckled. "Yeah, she's hinted at me about that too. A couple of other times."

With a sigh, Ken said, "I think we should at least wait until we get married."

"Yeah," agreed Jen. "Okay, back to the wedding."

Ken chuckled. "Okay. Large or small?"

"Small and simple, I think," replied Jen.

"Church or not?"

Jen looked over at the window for a moment. "I think not." She turned to Ken. "I remember what a chore my wedding was." She shook her head. "I do not want to do that again."

"Minister or not?" asked Ken.

A slow smile spread across Jen's face.

"I know that look," stated Ken. "What are you thinking?"

Jen just continued to smile.

"The last time I saw that look," stated Ken. "Was two years ago when you water ballooned your Dad on his birthday. After you asked me to hold one." 

Jen started giggling as she poked him. "Well it was funny! But you're the one that ended up in the pool."

"You were heading to the airport and dressed in your Whites," stated Ken. "And you knew your Dad would never throw anyone in a uniform into the pool." He looked at her. "That's why you gave me one of the balloons to hold."

"A diversion!" Jen giggled. "It's called mission planning. Besides, if I remember you did not put up much of a struggle."

Ken hugged her. "At least your Mom and Dad let me come along to see you off."

"I know," agreed Jen. "I asked Dad. He just laughed and said of course. And that was after I soaked him."

Ken sighed. "We have great parents. Family."

"Yeah." Jen leaned against him. "We do." Jen sighed. 

They were both quiet feeling content just to be together.

Jen said softly, "I miss your Dad."

"Me too."

They were silent for a few minutes as they snuggled together. Jen asked, "Do you think, Uncle Bob, your Dad, would have been happy about us?"

"I think so. Mom says yes," replied Ken. "She's made that very clear."

"What time is it?" asked Jen.

Ken looked at the alarm clock on his nightstand. "8:35."

"Good," returned Jen. "Give me your phone."

"Where's yours?"

Jen pointed at the small desk across the room. "Charging. Again!" She held out her left hand. "I think the battery is going."

Ken handed her his phone. "We'll get you another tomorrow."

Jen opened the phone and quickly found a number and dialed.

"Sue, its Jen. ... Doing fine. ... Yeah my battery died again. ... But what I wanted to know is if you are still a Justice of the Peace? ... Great!"

Jen looked at Ken. 

He was chuckling as he nodded.

"Ken and I want to know if you'll perform the wedding ceremony for us?"

"Yes!" yelled out Sue. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Of course!"

"Gee, Sue," said Jen. "Sorry to hear you're busy."

"Pay no attention to her, Sue," stated Ken.

Jen listened for a moment. "Not sure, Sue. Sometime this Spring I think. ... How about at Sunday Dinner we all bring our calendars and plan it then? ... Sounds good. ... Okay. ... Talk to you later." Jen closed up the phone and handed it to Ken.

As Ken returned his phone to the night stand, Jen suddenly snaked her right hand downward from Ken's chest and dipped it into his sweat pants.

Ken looked at her. "What are you up to?"

Placing her hand about his cock. "Just want to play with my toy soldier." Jen then began to play with his cock as she lowered her head to his lap.

"Your toy?" questioned Ken.

Jen turned to look up at him with a smile. She then licked her lips. "My toy." She then stroked his cock. "My toy!"

Ken could feel his cock quickly hardening. "Oh, Jen."

Jen pushed down his pajama pants and then kissed the head of his still hardening cock. "My toy." She looked back up at him with a wicked smile. "Say it."

"Say what?"

"It's my toy," she directed as she stroked his cock. "Say it."

"It's my toy," repeated Ken.

Jen opened her mouth and took his cock into her mouth and lowered her lips to the base. She then slowly dragged her teeth along his cock until she released it. 

Ken shivered. "Oh, Jen!"

She smiled up at him. "Wrong. This is my toy!" She slowly stroked his cock some more. "Say it."

Ken could feel his cock rapidly getting hard and he shivered again from the waves of pleasure he was receiving. He reached down and slipped his hand beneath Jen's pajama top and slid his hand up Jen's back.

Jen lowered her lips down his cock again. Then began to slowly bob her head up and down as she licked him with her tongue.

"Oh, Jen," he muttered. Ken closed his eyes as his hips began to thrust upwards in time with Jen's bobbing mouth and tongue. His breath started to come in short, uncontrolled breaths.

Ken slid his hand around her side and cupped her right breast. 

Jen began to bob her head up and down faster as she continued to suck on his pulsating flesh.

There was a sudden surge of a deep tingling sensation which ran through his groin. "Jen!" Uncontrollably he suddenly thrust his hips upwards as his cock erupted in a burst of intense throbbing pleasure in the hot, moist, sucking tunnel of Jen's mouth. 

Ken's grasping hand on her right breast only caused her to suck harder on his spurting organ as his seed rushed into her mouth. He grunted loudly as he continued to buck deeply into Jen's willing mouth.

Then slowly the need faded and with a last shudder Ken collapsed on the bed.

Jen continued to slowly lick his still hard cock. She smiled up at him. "My toy." Then she licked her lips.

Ken took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he grinned at her. "Your toy. Any time, Jen." He sighed contentedly. "Your toy."

Jen grinned as she rolled over on to her back and pointed down between her legs. "Your turn!" 

The End



The Conner Family Ch. 05



"The Conner Family – Ch 05"
"Love Across Town"
by
Rugrat60

The Conner Family Stories: 
01-"A Gift On Christmas Eve"
02-"Gifts On Christmas Morning"
03-"Nightmares Of A Broken Promise"
04-"The Request"
05-"Love Across Town." – current

She arched her back and spread her legs wider as she felt the welcomed tongue flick across her raised clit.  Then the mouth clamped down and suckled upon it drawing it up as the fleshy nub slowly grew in size. 

She could not believe how big her clit was getting.  It had been awhile.  She groaned as she planted her feet on the bed and pushed her groin willingly up at the mouth that was clamped to her cunt. There were several slow, sucking, wet lashes upon her engorged clit.

It was driving her to the edge.  Another long moan escaped her lips.

The mouth between her legs seemed to swallow her entire clit, lips and all into its hot, moist, sucking orifice.  Then the head shook back and forth adding more stimulation to her already hardened love button.

This was going to be good, she thought.

Then there were the fingers that began to slide into her very wet pussy.  It felt so wonderful.  "More," she softly pleaded as she hunched her groin up harder against the mouth that was deliciously eating her out.

And those invading fingers began to rub that spot far back above her cervix.  And she felt so delightfully full.  Her lover knew exactly where rub.  "Yessss," she breathed into the semi-darkness as she felt the beginning of her orgasm quiver through her groin.

"A little more," she pleaded.

Then she felt pressure on her anus and a probing finger pushed in.

She took a sharp breath, trying to adjust to the invader. 

Then it hit her.  

The orgasm rocked through her body as her stomach muscles contracted and her eyes rolled back.  Her legs tightened up as the spasms coursed through her.  She grabbed at the sheets with clinched fists.  And she hung there shuddering for what seemed like – forever.  And as the shudders eased she relaxed and slowly lowered herself down onto the bed with her legs splayed apart.  She would have collapsed if she was not already laying upon the bed.

She blew out the breath she had been holding as one more shudder ran through her.  Then she relaxed.  She took a long deep breath and slowly let it out.  And then another long slow breath in.  This time she sighed in quiet contentment.

She opened her eyes and looked down at the smiling face looking back up at her.  "Karen ... ," sighed Sharon.  She took another deep breath.  "That ... was wonderful."

"I'm glad," Karen's smile got brighter.  "And we got two whole days."  She then crawled up to cuddle with her twin.  "Sam's sorry he couldn't be here."

Sharon wrapped an arm about her sister, pulling her close.  "He's a horny old fart."  She took another deep breath and exhaled.

"Yep," replied Karen rubbing herself against her sister and she let her right hand drift across her sister's warm breasts.  "But he's my horny old fart.  You should feel lucky I like to share."

Sharon snorted.  "Yeah!  Right!"  She felt Karen kiss her softly on her right cheek.  "You smell like pussy."

"Course I do," retorted Karen.  "Been munching on yours for almost fifteen minutes."

"Was it that long?"

"Hummmm," whispered Karen, as she again kissed Sharon on the cheek.  "Every delicious minute."

Sharon sighed again.  "Give me a few minutes and I'll return the favor."

"After dinner," returned Karen.  "Starting to get a bit hungry."

"Yeah," yawned Sharon.  "Me too.

"Well," began Karen, as she draped her right leg across Sharon's to get closer.  "I got spiced burgers made.  Fresh green beans and carrots.  A full salad ready.  And some nice red wine in the fridge.  Just need to cook the burgers up and select a salad dressing."

"Sounds good."  Sharon yawned again.  "And I brought over those DVDs Ken made from the home movies."

"Really!  Which ones?"

"From when we were kids," replied Sharon.

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Karen.  "We can watch them during dinner. Want me start dinner?"

Sharon shook her head.  "No.  I'd like to just snuggle for a bit."  She reached down and pulled up a sheet and blanket to cover them.  

Karen kissed her sister again on the cheek.  "Yeah, me too."

"How long have we been doing this?"

"Don't know," replied Karen.  "A long time."

"Any regrets?"

Karen leaned up to look down at her sister.  "No, Sharon.  Not for one moment.  You?"

"Only once."

"When?" asked Karen, her voice carrying concern.

"The first time," answered Sharon.  "When Mom discovered us fooling around."

Karen stated, "When we were thirteen."

"Yeah.  I thought you were going to wake up Mom and Dad," sputtered Sharon.  "You were moaning so much.  But I couldn't stop.  You tasted so good."

"And you did too," returned Karen.  "Still do, Sis."

"Then you screeched," muttered Sharon.

"And we did wake her up!" laughed Karen.

"Then the door opened and Mom was standing there!" stated Sharon.  "I thought she was gonna whale on us really good."

Karen chuckled softly.  "I remember her just standing there in the doorway looking in at us."

"And both of us naked in the moon light," added Sharon, chuckling also.  

Karen squeezed the breast she held.  "All Mom did was shake her head and told us to keep it down."

Sharon added, "And then she had that silly grin on her face.  Then she left."

"Then their bed started squeaking," chuckled Karen.  "Sharon.  I have no regrets.  You're my twin sister.  How can I not be in love with you?"

Sharon gave Karen a loving kiss on the mouth.  It quickly turned into a tongue probing moment.  

Karen raised up, breaking the kiss.  

"Thanks," whispered Sharon.

"You're my sister.  And I love ya."  Karen paused looking at Sharon.  "So who's a horny little tramp?"

Sharon and Karen looked at each other smiling.  Then they both started giggling.  "We are!" they exclaimed together.

"Feel better?" asked Karen.

"Yes!"  Sharon hugged her.

After a few minutes of laying together, Karen asked.  "What do you think Jennifer and Kenneth are doing with the house to themselves?"

"Screwing their brains out," sputtered Sharon.

Karen laughed.  "Speaking of being naked," she said as she tweaked Sharon's left nipple.  "What about Jen and Ken skinny dipping?"

"They weren't alone," chuckled Sharon.

"Yep," agreed Karen.  "All five of them.  Bare ass to the world.  You still got those pictures?"

"Sure do," replied Sharon.  "And the negatives.  In the safe at home."

"How many did we take of them?"

Sharon chuckled.  "Enough to blackmail the lot of them several times over."

Karen started giggling.  "But Pam's a lawyer."

"Then we'll start with her," declared Sharon.  "That will keep the others in line."

"Good!" stated Karen.  "Then our retirement is all set."

Sharon chuckled.  "And there we were watching them sneak out to the pool butt ass naked."

"While the four of us were up in your bedroom.  Butt ass naked too."

"Considering everything," said Sharon.  "They were well behaved growing up.  And ... they have turned out pretty good."

"Well, neither of us were well behaved," sputtered Karen.  "So I don't know where they got it."

"Where else but their Dads," returned Sharon.  "Couldn't have been from us."

"Really," muttered Karen.  "I'm surprised Mom and Dad didn't lock us in the basement."

"And loose the key," added Sharon.

Karen snorted.  "Or sell us to a circus."

"See the Baker Twins on Expo," declared Sharon.  "Two nights only!"

The two hugged each other as they laughed.

"At least they got to see the kids grown up," said Karen.

"I remember," said Sharon.  "Before they headed home that time.  And how they said how proud they were of us and the kids."

"Seems we did okay too," added Karen.

"Yeah we did."

"But I do love movie nights."  Karen suddenly sighed and hugged Sharon.  "I do miss Bob."

Sharon hugged her back, leaning her head on her sister's shoulder. "Me too.  Those first couple of years were bad."

"I know, Sharon."

"It got easier when Ken moved back."  Sharon sighed.  "I was no longer rattling around in the house alone."  She looked up at Karen. "What really helped was having the movie nights with the kids and the grand kids over.  That helped a lot."

Karen added, "And the sleep overs."

"And of course our famous Sunday brunch," laughed Sharon.

Karen laughed with her.  "Say, do you think that Jen and Ken.  You know.  If they ever ... "

Sharon looked at her sister.  "Before?"  She shook her head.  "No.  Don't think so.  They were both good kids growing up.  I trusted Kenneth to always do the right thing."  She snorted.  "Now Sue and Pam were another thing."  She paused a moment.  "Bob had better luck with them then me." 

"Funny, Jennifer always listened to Sam," added Karen.  "You know she listened to me and all.  But on the important stuff she always did a sit down with Sam.  And Brian liked to come to me."

Sharon asked, "How did Jen do with the news that they were adopted?"

"Well."  Karen sighed.  "You know they got into the airport about midnight and then here way late due to the storm," stated Karen.  "Brian went right to bed.  But Jen and I sat up just talking for about an hour.  I told her then.  Before the others, so she could be ready for how everyone else would react."

"How'd she take it?"

Karen looked at her for a long moment.  "I would say relieved."

"Relieved?"

Karen nodded.  "Yeah.  She had just survived the plane crash.  All her injuries pushed her right out of the Navy.  Her future was gone.  And you've seen her scars.  The burns."  Karen suddenly pouted looking at Sharon.  Her eyes filling with tears.  "Sharon, I almost lost my baby!"  Then she started to cry.

Sharon hugged her close.

After several minutes Karen took a deep breath and let it out.  She  nodded.  "I wanted her to know that no matter what she would always be my daughter.  That would not change.  Not ever."

"I told Ken the same thing," added Sharon.  "Why was Jen relieved?"

"Kenneth," stated Karen simply.  "I think."  She took a deep breath.  "Because no matter what had ever happened in their lives the other has always been there.  Look at all the mail they sent."  Karen took another deep breath and let it out slowly.  She leaned against Sharon.  "The next day, after she woke up, all she did was pace.  She could not sit down for long.  She was lost.  I could see it.  And so could Sam."  Karen sighed heavily.  "Everything she had worked for for so long was gone.  Everything she was aiming for was taken from her.  She only had one thing she could hold on to.  Something she always had.  Ken.  Sure she had us.  But... "  Karen looked at Sharon.  "You know how they were growing up."

"I know," replied Sharon softly.  "They were closer than us."

"Yeah.  They were."  Karen nodded.  "And they had just spent those three months living together," stated Karen. "Just the two of them.  You know, Jen told me she could only sleep if Ken was in the same bed with her.  Holding her."  Karen sighed.  "She said it was the only way she felt safe."

"Like they did growing up," added Sharon.

"Sharon, they became a couple during that time together."

Sharon sighed.  "I know, Karen.  Ken, buried himself in his work when he got back.  He was glad to be home.  But... "

Karen said softly, "But he left his heart with Jennifer."

"Yeah," agreed Sharon.  "He did."

"You know, Sharon, I always worried when Jen went out with someone else," stated Karen. "But when Jennifer was out with Ken, I didn't worry.  I knew she would be safe.  I knew my baby would come home.  And with Kenneth with her in Florida, I knew he would take good care of her.  I knew she'd be okay."

"Like he always has," added Sharon.

"Yeah!"  Karen smiled.  "They always took care of each other."

"From sprained ankles to chicken pox," said Sharon.   "And Ken's broken leg."

"Yep!"  Karen snorted.  "But just watching her just pace around the house last Christmas Eve.  I knew they had to be together.  As did Sam."

"So what about your ring?" asked Sharon.  "How did you ever think of that?"

Karen snuggled closer.  "That was all Sam's idea.  I thought it was perfect.  It was the one thing that would let Jen know we were okay with how she felt about Ken.  About the two of them being together."

"Did Brian tell you he gave Ken a deadline?"

Karen chuckled.  "The scamp!  Not a clue!  He skyped Sam's computer so we could all watch."  She shook her head.  "Our kids planned all that."  

Sharon laughed.  "A typical Conner plan."

Karen chuckled.  "Better than the average ones."

"Brian just told me to stay quiet and he made the call," stated Sharon.  "Then we sneaked downstairs and watched while he held up the phone."

"I cried watching," stated Karen.  "And Sam was perfect."

"How so?"

"As we watched them, he hugged me and said Jen was going to be okay."

"How'd he know?" asked Sharon.

"She's Daddy's Girl," replied Karen, as she settled down next to her twin sister.  She sighed.  "Always has been."

Sharon said softly, "Now she belongs with Ken."

Karen kissed Sharon's cheek.  "She was Daddy's Girl.  But her heart always belonged to Ken."

"They were lucky we found them after that tornado," sighed Sharon.

"No, Sharon," whispered Karen.  "We were the lucky ones."


The End
"Love Across Town"
"The Conner Family – Ch 05"



The Conner Family Ch. 06



"The Photo - In Retrospect"

The Conner Family Stories: 

01-"A Gift On Christmas Eve"

02-"Gifts On Christmas Morning"

03-"Nightmares Of A Broken Promise"

04-"The Request" 

05-"Love Across Town"

06-"The Photo - In Retrospect" - current

This story is part of 'The Conner Family' Series and takes place three months after Jennifer Conner's accident and three months before Chapter One of the series - "A Gift On Christmas Eve." - Rugrat60 

*****

Kenneth Robert Conner sat quietly in the office in the home of his mother. The home he had grown up in. The home he had returned to after his divorce. He sat quietly watching the progress of the synchronization of his laptop to his larger, more powerful home computer and to the servers down in the basement. 

He knew he did not have to watch the computers work, he had run the program nearly every day when he was home and usually just walked away for lunch, or head out and run errands, or during the summer go jump into the pool. Knowing that the program could take care of itself.

But he had been in Florida. He was there not on vacation, but there taking care of his cousin Jennifer, his life long best friend, for the past three months after her accident. The accident which occurred when her fighter jet ran into a flock of birds during take off and her engines failed over the crowded Naval Base. 

He quickly shifted his thoughts away from thinking about the results of her fighter jet going into the ground and Jennifer's life threatening injuries when she avoided the crowed areas around the base. And her ejecting seconds before the fighter crashed into the ground and exploded. Thus keeping those on the ground from harm.

And now today, this was his first full day back home, after spending the time with Jen in Florida. Helping her to get through those hard, slow months of her recovery. Taking care of all her needs.

He glanced at the computer monitor. It would take quite sometime today for the backup to run as he had started two new projects while in Florida.

He took a deep breath and slowly sighed and let his eyes drift about his father's old study. He remembered the many times he would come in to ask his Dad a question on his homework or some school project or something else. No matter what his father was working on, he always had time for him. And for his sisters, he remembered.

He slowly turned his father's high backed, office chair away from the desk and let his eyes drift slowly about the office. He still referred to it as 'the office' or 'Dad's Office,' but never his office. The other chair sat near the window. He and his sisters would take that chair when their father 'held council' on their behavior, or 'conversed' over their questions. 

He had quickly realized that today was going to be a complete waste of time doing any real work. His mind was running on empty and the usual inner chatter on programming issues running through his mind were gone. His mind was blank. He felt empty and numb. So very much empty. 

Empty except for one thing. Jennifer. She was there, in his thoughts, all the time. And had been ever since he got the call about her accident.

He looked at the second chair again and smiled. His father had never raised his voice in anger. Only once had he stood in here with the door closed as a teenager, facing his parents who sat in both chairs. He had been suspended from school for five days when he put down five members of the high school football team for picking on his cousin Jen. Also suspended were Jen and her brother Brian for their part in that rather one sided fight. Considering the three of them had been taking Karate lessons for years.

'Tell me what happened,' said his father. And Ken did. He remembered his father had snorted as his mother had giggled. Then his father had jerked his thumb at the door. And told him to 'Go write it up. I want it on my desk in the morning.'

Ken continued to turn, letting his mind and eyes drift about. Then his eyes stopped, looking at the opposite wall, at the eight by ten framed picture of his cousin Jennifer. 

It was a four year old picture. She was standing in her Navy flight suit on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Enterprise. It was, he remembered, a photo she had someone take just for him. In the photo she stood beside her jet fighter with a big smile and with her double handed forefinger and thumb 'v' shaped salute with her hands by her face. It was the one hand gesture she only gave to him when everything was okay. And for Jen that meant life was perfect.

Ken closed his eyes as he took a deep shuddering breath.

But everything was not okay. Nothing was perfect. And it would never be again. Every thing had changed.

"Oh, Jen," he softly whispered, looking up at the picture as he blew out his breath, feeling his eyes stinging and then tears began to run down his cheeks. "Jen. I'm so sorry."

"Ken?" came the soft voice of his mother.

Ken turned to look up at his mother standing in the doorway.

He quickly wiped at his eyes.

Sharon sighed. Then she stepped into the room and wrapped an arm about his shoulder. "Men and their tears! I'll never understand." She kissed the top of his head. "It is okay to cry you know."

"I almost lost her, Mom."

"Ken," said Sharon softly as she knelt down in front of the chair, looking up at him, "listen to me, Sweetheart. You did not almost loose her. You got there just in time. At the right moment to rescue her." She took a deep breath and sighed. "Your Aunt Karen called that first day, after they saw Jen and you. She told me that the Doctors only gave Jen a ten percent chance of surviving her injuries." Sharon nodded. "Yes, Jen was that badly hurt. But, after you got there, Jen started to stabilize. Like it or not, kido, you were Jen's life line. You held on to her until she could hold her own."

She reached up and tussled his hair. "Then you stayed with her and helped Jennifer through those hard months of her recovery."

Ken looked up at her. Tears still ran down his cheeks.

She placed a box of tissues on his lap.

Sharon nodded at him. Then she reached and took his hands and held them. "We are all very proud of you for stepping up the way you did. And we all knew how hard it must have been. Seeing Jennifer like that. Knowing what she had to endure."

"But," stated Ken, "the doctor told me what was wrong with Jen."

"And I don't give a hoot what the doctors say either," stated Sharon. "Remember, Karen and I are nurses and we worked with them yahoos for a bit. Bunch of airhead know-it-alls." She pointed at Ken. "Doctors only think of the body." She touched Ken's forehead and then the center of his chest. "They don't know diddly about what the heart and mind can do."

Ken took a deep breath and let it out.

"And they certainly had no clue about you two," she added.

Ken just nodded.

"By you being there for Jennifer, she had the strength to endure what most likely would have taken her. You were there. You were her strength. With you there, she wanted to live."

Sharon touched the box of tissues on his lap. "Now blow your nose and wipe your eyes." She touched her nose. "Then give a sniff see what I cooked you for lunch." She got to her feet.

"Mom."

"Yes, Sweetheart?"

"Can I take a picture from the wall and put it in here?" asked Ken.

Sharon smiled. "Course you can." She turned to go then looked back and pointed at him. "Hey, blow your nose, kido. And guess what's for lunch."

Ken blew his nose and wiped his eyes.

He held out the box to her.

"Keep it, Ken," said Sharon. "In case ya need to blow yer nose again, or maybe powder that nose of yours." She gave him a slight smile. "Besides, got another box on the kitchen table for my own waterworks." She tilted her head looking at him. "Well?" 

Ken sniffed. He looked up at his Mom giving her a little smile. "Kielbasa ... and sour kraut?"

"Yep!" she nodded. "And a six pack of that German beer you like." Sharon looked at him. Then she nodded her head towards the hallway. "Lets go get the picture."

Ken rose and followed his mother into the living room. The far wall was taken up by the fireplace with bookshelves on either side. Above the fireplace was a large water color painting of an old New England barn in winter with a stonewall and bare trees. The wall opposite the window was full of pictures above the sofa. All eight by tens in similar black frames. The pictures wrapped around to the wall opposite the fireplace.

Sharon gestured at the wall. "Which one?"

Ken went to stand by the front door. He searched, then backed up scanning the entire wall. 

"I've been swapping some out," stated Sharon. "Needed room for a couple of the grand kids. Which one are you looking for?"

"It was over by the door," stated Ken. He turned to Sharon. "Jen and me with the bonfire. Back when we were 17."

Sharon gave him a big smile. She held up her finger and went to the end of the couch. She lifted up a box and placed it on the sofa. She dug out a picture frame. Sharon held it out towards him. "This it?"

Ken took the frame and looked at the twenty-five year old color photo. With the orange and yellow flames in the foreground and Kenneth sitting there with his arm around Jennifer who was resting against Ken. Both were laughing. He looked up at Sharon with a smile. "Mom, this is it!" 

Sharon then held out a medium sized brown box. "You can send that copy down to Jen. Already framed, packed and addressed."

He took the box. "Its from me!"

Sharon shook head. "You can be such a goof at times. Course it's from you. You are paying the postage."

"Thanks." Ken looked at the picture he held. "She'll like it."

"Good," stated Sharon. "Lunch first, then I'll drive you to the Post Office. Then shopping."

"Shopping?"

"Shopping," she repeated. "We are having movie night Saturday. With the required sleep over."

"Here?"

Sharon gave him a silly smirk. "No! Across the street at the Moors!"

Ken looked at her confused. "What?"

Sharon laughed. "We just have not told them yet!"

Ken shook his head. "A guy leaves town for a couple of days."

Sharon took his arm and led him towards the kitchen. "A bit has changed since you went to Florida." Sharon looked at the time. "When your phone rings, put it on speaker."

"What?" asked Ken looking at the clock. It was two pm sharp.

"Call from ... Jen," stated the phone in his pocket. Then it began to ring.

Ken put the pictures on the table and got the phone out of his pocket on the third ring. "Jen! Wait - going to speaker."

Jen's voice drifted up from the phone. "Thought I should call and make sure you did not get lost going home."

"I made it." He paused glancing at his Mom. "But it does not feel like home."

Sharon just smiled.

"Yeah. I know, Ken. Guess what?" asked Jen.

"You stubbed your toe and are back in casts?"

There was a laugh on the phone. "Yeah! Right. No! I got my left arm back this morning."

"No casts?" asked Ken.

"No casts," stated Jen.

Ken sat down at the kitchen table. There was a slight smile on his lips. "Good to hear, Jen."

"Can I call you later?"

"Always, Jen."

Jen said, "Mom made me Kielbasa and sour kraut for lunch."

Ken looked up at his Mom. She just smirked as she started putting lunch together.

"Same here, Jen."

"Ha! Moms," stated Jed with an uplift to her voice. "I'll call about nine, okay?"

Ken looked at the picture of Jen and him at the bonfire. "Nine is fine."

"Okay. Bye, Ken."

"Bye."

Then the call ended.

Ken closed the phone and set it on the table as his Mom set a plate of Kielbasa and sour kraut before him.

"You and Aunt Karen." He shook his head. "Good planning."

"Conner Plan eight twenty seven," stated Sharon placing her plate on the table and then returned to hand Ken a bottle of beer. For herself there was a mug of tea by her plate. "One with lunch."

She sat down and looked at him. "Saturday, if you don't mind," stated Sharon, "you can bunk in with me."

"What for?"

"James is home on leave," replied Sharon. "Only way I could convince he and Emma and the twins to come over was to give them a room so they have time together."

"Not a problem." Ken chuckled. "For them, I'd sleep outside. I've not seen James for what, two years?"

Sharon nodded. "Yeah, he's been deployed a lot." She pointed at his plate. "Eat up, we got shopping to do. And remind me to get extra coffee ice cream for James."

Ken looked down at his plate, thinking of Jen.

Sharon spoke up. "Better finish eating before Jen gets done before you."

Ken laughed at the image he had of both Jen and he trying to out do the other when eating. He picked up his fork.

The End.



The Conner Family Ch. 07



The Conner Family Stories: 

01-"A Gift On Christmas Eve"

02-"Gifts On Christmas Morning"

03-"Nightmares Of A Broken Promise"

04-"The Request" 

05-"Love Across Town"

06-"The Photo - In Retrospect"

07-"Miracles In The Storm" - current story

Prolog:

This story is part of the continuing Series 'The Conner Family.' This story is in the Category: of Non-Erotic Stories. In this story you will learn of the events that take place on the day that two babies were found alive by brothers Robert and Sam Conner and their wives, twin sisters Sharon and Karen, beneath some wreckage after an F3 tornado passed through the towns of Brentwood and Lindon. This story takes place forty two years before Chapter One of 'The Conner Family' series - "A Gift On Christmas Eve." And the events in this story are the foundations of the characters in the series. - Please understand, this is out of sequence - but - creativity comes when it does. - As always all comments are welcomed. - Rugrat60 - 

*****

"Miracles In The Storm"

Brenda Marie Peters looked at the outside of the small two bedroom house that was for rent. Sitting in the front seat of her ten year old, well used car, parked in the driveway. She was waiting for the owners to come and to show her the house. 

She looked again at the ad: 'Rental Furnished House on sml lot, 2Bdr, 1 bath, kitch, livrm. Near schools and parks. Nice yard.' There was the number which she had called. The owners were willing to let her see the house. She looked at her watch. She was thirty minutes early. But she did not mind. The time gave her a chance to look at the neighborhood. Time to listen to the sounds of the area. It was quite. Comforting she thought. She did not miss the near continual background noise of the city where she grew up. She smiled to herself. A great place for raising kids.

The driver's side window was rolled down and she could hear the birds singing. There was a gentle breeze blowing along carrying with it the scent of spring flowers. And it was comfortable. 

Brenda glanced into the backseat at her two babies. She smiled looking down at them laying side by side in the passenger side foot well of the car, bundled up in blankets. Janice and James were both asleep. Two weeks ago she had given birth to her fraternal twins, at a clinic back in some small town in Ohio. She tried to call home, but her father was still so angry with her that he had hung up as soon as she spoke.

She sighed. Then she was busy with her children. She would try again later, perhaps tomorrow. Maybe catch her Mom alone after her father went to work. And then let her know she had two grandchildren. She had sent a postcard from the clinic with the news. She had signed it simply: Brenda - heading west.

Picking up the other ad she glanced through the employment notice again. It was what had brought her here. Brenda read: 'Second Accountant wanted. Light bookkeeping. Family business. Mother's hours.' She had been planning on traveling further west, putting more distance behind her. But the ad had caught her eye yesterday and she had called. She remembered she had run out of change for the payphone. But Mr. Kincade told her to call back collect.

Mr. Kincade was so nice, but he wanted to meet her and her babies before deciding. But, he had told her she sounded perfect for the job. Brenda remembered that he had also said that once his wife met her, and her twins, he would have to hire her. She set the ad with the other papers on the passenger seat. She smiled again. She sighed. Brenda was beginning to feel like things were changing for her.

And once things were settled, she would mail a letter to Carl at his APO address and let him know were she was. And tell him he was a father.

Closing her eyes, she breathed in the quiet still air. She could really enjoy the quite here. So different from the city she had grown up in. Open yards. Room for children to play outside. Again she smiled. And a yard, she thought. A real yard. She could already see Janice and James running and playing together. Being inseparable.

Again she smiled. Brenda liked the idea of them being inseparable. Always having someone to depend upon. She nodded and smiled at the idea. She could only wish it would happen.

Better than her own family life she thought. Her being the youngest of four. Her parents had not expected her at all. There was seven years between her and her next oldest sibling. Her brother Kevin, who had no time for her. Now at 21, she knew things would be different. It would be different with her twins. She would see to that, she had decided. One of the many reasons why she had left with her few belongings, packed into the trunk. With room to spare.

Brenda then realized that it was quiet. Too quiet. She opened the car door and stepped out and listened. Nothing. No birds. No wind. "How odd," she muttered as she slowly looked around. Everything was so still.

Then, as she looked over the roof of the car, she saw a black swirling mass of a cloud that was churning upwards into the dark clouds high above. For a moment she just looked, stunned. She knew it was a tornado. She had seen a couple of films in science class. But this one was huge. "I can't be here," she said aloud.

Brenda quickly got back into the car and closed the door. She turned the key. Nothing. Damn she hated the clutch and standard shift. 

Then the rain started to fall. It was heavy and gray. With it came the hail pinging on the car's hood and roof. 

She quickly got the window rolled up.

Brenda reached for the key again, but something moving to her left caught her eye. She turned and watched the house at the end of the block explode as it vanished into a black moving mass.

My babies, she thought, in fear, knowing they could not stay in the car. She quickly slid across the seat to the passenger door and climbed out. Brenda opened the rear door and got her blanket wrapped babies in her arms. She turned towards the house and moved the few feet and got down behind the cement steps leading up to the front door. 

There was no where else to go that she could see. There were not even windows in the low foundation.

The sound of the wind was a roar now. The near freezing rain had already soaked her. The hail was hitting her back and her head as she bent over protecting her babies. She huddled down behind the steps hugging her babies tight against her. Trying to stay low to protect Janice and James.

There was sudden loud crash behind her. 

Startled, she turned and saw that her car was crushed beneath what looked like the roof and attic of a house. She watched as things started to fly through the air.

Then she could feel and hear the house she was against beginning to move and groan. The sound of breaking glass. The sound of wood snapping. And there was the loud roar of the wind.

Still holding her babies she felt the steps she was hiding behind shift pushing her back. The house behind her was making more noises of things breaking. Then a gust of wind tried to rip the blankets from around the babies, but Brenda crouched down lower behind the steps, facing into the corner.

Again she could feel the cement steps move, pushing her backwards.

Looking again at the roof top and the smashed opening of a window of the attic, Brenda could see into the back of her car. She knew they would not survive out here in the open. She rose and crouched down against the wind and driving hail. She quickly moved the few feet to the small opening. She had to lay down and she quickly pushed Janice and James through the small opening of what was left of the attic window, into the rear of the car. In away from the wind. She knew the opening was too small for her, she prayed for a miracle to save her children, even as she pushed Janice and James further in as far as she could stretch.

Brenda Marie Peters never felt the broken brick traveling at close to ninety miles per hour, thrown by the tornado, when it hit the back of her head. She was dead before the winds picked up her body and it was carried away.

A gust of wind moved the wreckage of the house out into the street, dragging the car with it.

Within the ruined car, under the wreckage of the house, the two babies were safe from the storm as it passed close at hand. 

Then the tornado moved on leaving destruction and death in its wake. 

Then everything became still and quiet.

Then, not to long later a pickup truck drove up with a station wagon close behind. Both male drivers quickly got out and grabbed gloves, pry-bars, axes and flashlights from the pickup. The two women got out and from the back of the station wagon they got large first-aid kits. Then they were soon standing together, in the terrible silence, looking at the destruction. 

For hundreds of yards there was not a single structure standing within the path the tornado had taken.

"Oh, my," said one of the women who stood with who appeared to be her identical twin sister. She reached out and took her sister's hand.

One of the males was shaking his head. "Don't know how anyone could have survived this."

There was not a sound heard. It was awful to hear nothing.

"Listen!" stated the other woman. "A baby! Crying."

"I hear it," stated the other male as he pointed.

"Lead the way," said the first male.

Soon one of the men was on his stomach reaching into the wreckage of the house. He then backed out and rolled over holding a small naked baby. One of the women quickly took the baby and held the child close to her. "It's a girl." 

"I'll get a blanket," said the other woman as she ran back to the car. 

The male on the ground rolled over and he reached back in. "There's another baby here!" He quickly came back out with a second baby. "This one's a boy." He held out a dirty slightly ragged blue blanket. "This is all I found."

The woman holding the baby girl spoke up. "Keep it. It looks like the ones we give out in maternity. We might be able to trace it. And get a name for these two."

The second woman came back with two large heavy blankets and the two babies were warmly wrapped up and were being securely held in the arms of the two women. They moved back to the station wagon to tend to the babies while the men began looking for others in the wreckage.

And Brenda's asked for miracle had arrived. 

The End

"Miracles In The Storm"

"The Conner Family - Ch 07"