Karen Saves The Universe: Part 3

Karen Embarks on a cure campaign.

Based on a post by LingeringAfterthought, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.

Karen sighed, "Might as well. Let's go kill the libido of an entire civilization, Holland."

Holland took her arm and soon the cell where she was held disappeared and another space formed around them. Captain Hemsworth and several crew members from the ship stood nearby, as well as Ensign Holland who was still holding her arm, reassuringly. Looking around, Karen saw that they were in what appeared to be a sound-booth of sorts. One crewmember activated some equipment and moved one protruding tentacle closer to Karen's mouth and another toward Captain Hemsworth's.

"Are we ready, Ellis?" Captain Hemsworth asked, clearing his throat. Ellis nodded and stepped back from the tentacles. Hemsworth tapped the end of the tentacle and a booming noise reverberated around the room. He cleared his throat several more times and straightened his collar. "People of Priam! Your deliverance has come! You sent us forth among the stars to find the cure to the horrid addiction of filth that has infiltrated our minds and we have not failed you! We have dedicated our lives to this effort, foregone having families, and any comforts of home to bring you this salvation! Behold; The Karen!" he proclaimed, gesturing for Karen to speak.

"Um; hi?" Karen said, unsurely. Hemsworth glanced at Ellis who was reading some type of display. Ellis frowned and motioned for her to continue speaking. "Um; my name is Karen;"

"Hi Karen;” several crew members responded unanimously before Captain Hemsworth cut them off with a gesture.

"Um; I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to say. I heard you're all having some troubles. I'm sorry. I know what that's like. I've had some troubles, too. I married the wrong person; someone who didn't really love me. I wasn't brave and I tried to avoid trouble too much. I had four kids, but they grew up seeing me treated badly, so they don't really see me as being worth much; if they don't need me to be a mom anymore, what good am I to them? I love them, but; I wish I had done more with my life. Now, I'm getting a divorce; and now that I'm in my 50's, I'm not young and beautiful anymore, so it's like I'm invisible to most people. My body hurts more than it used to; and I'm afraid most days. I don't know what's going to happen to me. Everything keeps changing and I don't know where I belong. I feel like I've failed all the time. But, they said that maybe I could help you, so; I hope I can help make things better for you. I'd like to see something good come out of all this," Karen said, wiping some tears off her cheeks. Holland stepped next to her and took her hand. She smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Ellis?" Hemsworth asked.

Ellis looked up from the display, a disconcerted expression on his face. "I don't understand;” he murmured, leaning down and feverishly working on the equipment. "They're hearing it. I know they're hearing it;”

"It's not working? She just spoke more than it took to knock out the entire bridge crew! What do you mean it's not working?" Hemsworth said, frustrated. Karen looked at Holland, who simply shrugged.

Captain Hemsworth frowned with determination and motioned to Karen, "Speak again. Louder. Talk about the cobb salad! Men, brace yourselves!" he ordered.

"Cobb salad?" Karen repeated, surprised. "Oh, well, um; it's just yummy. It's got hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, bacon, and avocado on a bed of lettuce; chives and bleu cheese over the top is good, too. The nice thing is that all the ingredients are put into neat little rows across the lettuce, so you can choose exactly what you want in each bite! It's not just a big mess like other salads. You know, I could make you one ; do you guys have avocadoes?" she said enthusiastically, looking to Holland.

Holland immediately began looking up something on his hand-held computer. "Av-o-ca-does; do they yield their young willingly, or do we need to;"

"What the hell is going on???" Captain Hemsworth yelled, grabbing Holland's ear and looking inside. "Holland! You're not wearing protection! Why aren't you unconscious on the floor?"

"Oh, um; they were kind of uncomfortable, and they made it hard to hear what she was remembering, and;"

"You Remembered With The Karen? What Is Wrong With You?" Hemsworth shouted, before calming himself. "Momoa, get some caffeline ready. I need to hear her again," he said, bracing himself as he pulled what looked like slugs out of his ears. "Speak again about the salad;”

"Okay, uh; most like to eat it with a vinaigrette? I think that gets to be a bit too much if there's bleu cheese on top, though. Sometimes I'll get it with ranch or something creamy because then;"

"What the hell, Holland! What did you do to The Karen? I barely feel anything!" Hemsworth yelled, grabbing Holland by the uniform.

"Um; I don't know; we just talked and remembered; you know, she's really nice, if you get to;"

"Dammit, You've Broken The Karen, Holland! How Are We Supposed To;" Captain Hemsworth yelled until he was interrupted by a knock nearby.

Lieutenant Ellis activated a control on his display and a hole formed in the wall of the room. An assembly of Priamites entered the room, as smoothly as if they were rolled in on a platform together. The crew of the Onan immediately fell prostrate on the floor before them. Karen, unwilling to lie face-down on a floor she hadn't cleaned herself, looked around uncomfortably and gave the assembly a small wave. One Priamite raised her hand to return the gesture but was quickly stopped by her neighbor.

"Welcome, crew of the Onan," one of the assembly said, followed by the rest of the assembly nodding agreeably. "We are most appreciative of all your; efforts. We realize that you have dedicated several of your lifetimes to freeing our civilization from the throes of pornographic addiction, and for your many sacrifices, we thank you," the speaker said, then glanced around uncomfortably at the others. "Most unexpectedly, ah; while the Eros Curse was most distressing to the initial generations, the subsequent generations acclimated to it rather quickly. Then, as fashions changed, the Eros Curse became more of a joke, really; dance mixes were made, memes;”

"Excuse me?" Captain Hemsworth said, lifting his face from the floor.

"I mean, sure, the Eros Curse is still out there. It's just that it's just become something people live with. It doesn't take over our lives, but some indulge in it a little after the kids have gone to bed for the night. I mean, it's not really such a big deal. It adds a little spice to an otherwise boring life, you know?"

"Boring life?" Hemsworth repeated, rising to his feet. "Are you telling me that all of Priam just walks around, living life, thinking about; that?"

"Well, yes, but we are very grateful for all you and your crew have done for us. We express our thanks to all the crews of the ships we loaded up with uptight intellectuals that were determined to rid our civilization of; alternative thoughts. We have come here to present you and your crew with a commemorative plaque for all your;"

"Is this some kind of joke?" Hemsworth said, pacing around. "I've been trekking throughout the universe looking for a cure to your abhorrent lust-filled thoughts and now you just want to give me a plaque for a lifetime of sacrifice because you don't see a problem with your disgusting sticky existence?"

"Well, there's no need to kink-shame;” the assembly spokesperson muttered, "Honestly, you never wondered why they sent the most uptight assholes on the planet off on a vague 'mission' and never really asked for progress reports?"

"I don't believe this;” Hemsworth said, his eyes bulging, nostrils flaring. "We've sacrificed our lives for nothing???"

"Oh, I see where this is going;” Karen said to Holland, who seemed to be trying to assume a duck-and-cover position.

"How could you do this to us???" Hemsworth yelled.

"Use the diaphragm for projection, baby; you can do it;” Karen encouraged.

"I Want; To See; The Manager!" Captain Hemsworth yelled at the top of his lungs, causing a feedback loop to screech throughout the room. The last thing Karen saw before falling unconscious was the sight of every Priamite in the room projectile vomiting on each other. The stench was overwhelming.

Karen’s Humility.

Karen lifted her face off the bathroom floor, overwhelmed by the stench. She brushed off a spare piece of toilet paper stuck to her face, as she tried to remember what had happened. Her lungs burned from what she slowly recognized as pepper spray. She gathered her purse and stumbled out of the stall and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red, and a bruise was swelling where her cheek hit the floor. She splashed some cold water on her face and wiped off the makeup that streaked in the process. This was Snookers; not Baker's Pie. She had just ripped a kid a new asshole for not having cobb salad on the menu. What was she doing with her life?

Upon exiting the bathroom, she ran into Travis the Waiter, who looked like he had just splashed water on his face, too. Dread and unease filled his face upon seeing her before it was quickly masked into concern. "Oh, um; are you okay? Can I get you some ice for that?" he asked, looking at the bruise on her cheek.

"What? Oh, no, honey. I'm okay. I just fell," she said, before meeting his eyes and taking his hand in hers. "Travis, I'm so sorry about the way I treated you. That was awful, and I have no excuse. You didn't deserve that."

"It's okay; it happens," Travis said, carefully.

"It shouldn't, though. I was wrong, and I'm sorry. Would you mind if I just gave you some cash to cover the meal and snuck out of here? God knows what that group of biddies will gossip about when I go out there like this," Karen said, gesturing to herself.

"Yeah, that should be no problem," Travis said, taking the money she offered. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Karen nodded, "I'm fine. I've just got some things to do. You've got a sweet heart, honey. Keep listening to it."

Karen swallowed nervously as she went up the walkway to the small suburban house. She hadn't called before coming. It was rude of her not to call ahead of time, but then again, she was pretty sure that her number had been blocked. She didn't know if her oldest son had gone "no contact" or just "low contact" with her, but she was pretty sure her daughter-in-law would threaten to call the police within five minutes of her ringing the doorbell. Nevertheless, when she got up to the door, Karen put her finger forward and rang the bell.

"What do you want, Karen?" Hailey's terse voice came through the doorbell.

"Oh; you got one of those camera doorbell things; that's nice;” she began, unsure of how to say what was in her heart without a face in front of her.

"What do you want?" Hailey repeated.

"Um; I wanted to talk with you;"

"The last time you wanted to 'talk' with me, you just wanted to see my kids while you criticized my inadequate housekeeping, my inept child-rearing, and my unattractive post-pregnancy body. So, forgive me if I'd prefer not to have a heart-to-heart, Karen," Hailey interrupted.

"You're right," Karen said, looking at the dark circle holding the doorbell's camera. "I did that. I did that. I have not been kind to you. When Cal Jr. brought you home, I was not welcoming. I should have been; because you deserved that. You deserved it because you made my son happy. You have made him happier than I've ever known him to be; and that's what I've always wanted for him. If you were just like me, if you did all the things that I obnoxiously told you to do; he wouldn't be half as happy as he is with you; just as you are. If for no other reason than my son's happiness, you have my gratitude. I'm sorry that I've wasted the chances you've given me to know you better. You're brave and confident and funny. Honestly, I think you're the person I wished I could have been at your age. I'm sorry for a lot of things but being wasteful; saying thoughtless things that hardened people's hearts; those are the things that I wish I could take back the most. So, um;” Karen said, checking her notes on her phone's notepad to make sure she got all the points she wanted, "that's pretty much it. Oh, and I put that chocolate mousse recipe you liked on this index card so you can make it, but feel free to call me if you can't read my writing; or if you, you know, ever need anything."

Karen nodded at the doorbell and started back down the walkway toward her car, blinking back tears. She had wasted so much time, so many chances. She didn't know if there was a point in trying again now, but she had to. She wasn't getting any younger.

As she reached the end of the walkway, she was nearly knocked over by two little bodies running into her and grabbing onto her legs. Tears fell freely down her cheeks as she bent down to pick up her grandchildren, kissing them until they tried to wiggle away. As they started simultaneously telling her everything they had been doing while she was away, Karen's eyes drifted up to the doorway where her pierced and tattooed daughter-in-law stood. "Thank you" Karen mouthed silently over her grandchildren's backs.

Karen pushed open the doors of Forest Glenn Hospice Care, her bag stuffed with an array of items and went up to the front desk. "Karen Weaver. I'm here for Dana Stevens," she said.

The new girl at the reception desk looked at Karen with quiet unease. "Um; Ms. Stevens has requested only visitors who have;" Karen smirked and lifted the wig off her head, revealing her clean-shaven head. "Oh! Great! Go right in," she said, relieved.

The corridor of the hospice facility was peaceful and quiet; exactly the kind of thing the old Dana would hate. Entering her room, Karen looked for any signs that other visitors had been to see Dana but saw nothing. Dana was napping again, her face drawn and gaunt, but thankfully not in pain. Karen put down her bag in a nearby chair and took out a rolled-up electronic piano keyboard and unfurled it on a table next to the hospital bed. As she was on her hands and knees trying to find an outlet to use, she heard Dana clear her throat. "What the hell is that?" she asked, smirking as she nodded at the keyboard.

"Your afternoon's entertainment. I ordered it on Amazon; you should have seen the bitchy reviews. Reminded me of you. Mind you, I haven't played since Cal got rid of the piano when it didn't fit in the Brooklyn apartment, so you're in for a treat," Karen said, rubbing her hands together and moving her glasses on top of her head so she could see the keyboard controls.

"Calvin Carmichael in a Brooklyn apartment. My god. What was it that emptied the Carmichael family coffers after they stole you away from me, again?" Dana asked, her sunken eyes taking in every detail of Karen's face as she hovered over the keyboard.

"Bernie Madoff; cleaned 'em dry. His parents were ever so shocked when they had to sell their properties and move to Florida," Karen said. "They weren't poor; they had enough to retire, but; they were horridly middle class."

"Karma's a bitch," Dana said, pushing back against her pillows to sit up more. "Kare; I'm so sorry I didn't talk with you when you came back to the apartment. I could have helped you; we both would have helped you."

Karen's smile faded, remembering and wondering what might have been. Dana would have helped her, but she was certain Dana's help would be help to get an abortion; and then she would never have had the joy of knowing her grandchildren. Dean would have; well, it was impossible to know what he would have done, but he would have helped. "Well, consider this your punishment," Karen said, stretching her fingers. "Are you ready?"

"I'm on opiates, baby. Bring it on;” Dana said, a smile moving across her face.

Karen's fingers moved across the keys, and at first, she was put off by the strangeness of the keys and the sensation of tapping on something flat instead of the feel of a piano. Then, memory took over and her hands remembered the dance. Years fell away as she was filled again with the joy of making music. She started with "Clair de lune," a gentle Debussy chosen to respect the frailty of her friend's condition.

Upon playing the final chords, she looked up for her friend's reaction to see that Dana had covered her face with a pillow in an attempt to smother herself. "God, you're rusty. You used to be better than me. What have you been doing with those hands?" she complained.

"Raising kids; kneading dough; finding random women’s' panties when I changed sheets on the bed," Karen said, ruefully.

"Should've jumped Dean while you had the chance;” Dana murmured.

Karen bit her lips and closed her eyes. "Um; how; how is he?"

Dana stared into Karen's eyes for a painfully long moment, then looked out the window, away from Karen. "Life; life wasn't kind to him. After I graduated, he moved back home to take care of Nana. He only came to the city to look after me, anyway. Living alone hardened him. I haven't seen him in years; not that I'd want to see what he's become. Sometimes you just need to let people go, Kare," she said, sighing sadly. "Anyway; I need a laugh. Show me how pathetic your Jerry Lee Lewis catalog is."

"Yes, ma'am," Karen said, blinking back tears and starting into "Great Balls of Fire."

The wind coming through the drivers' side window ruffled the inch-long cap of vivid red hair that had grown on Karen's head as she drove down the winding West Virginia roads that she hadn't seen in 30 years. The beauty of this place still softened and relaxed her as much as it had, oh so long ago. Despite Dana's warnings, Karen's heart demanded that she make this trip; and after all she had lost, she was determined to listen to her heart from now on, until she could no longer hear it.

She frowned at her passenger and began coughing as a noxious odor swirled around, filling her SUV. She rolled her window down further in self-preservation. This was probably a bad idea; but after all these years of thinking things through and being sensible, she felt entitled to indulge in a few harebrained schemes.

"Country road; take me home; to the place; I belong; West Virginia; mountain mama; take me home; country road;” she sang, smiling as the wooded foothills rose up in the distance. The path became rough when she turned by the Stevens mailbox and began bouncing up through the woods toward the cozy home. Her passenger surveyed the woods around the vehicle with increasing excitement.

Karen started doubting herself, though. It was ridiculous, the more she thought about it. All her emails had gone unanswered. The phone number she was given was out of service. Three decades had passed since she came here; why would he want to see a 50-something woman with an unflattering haircut and stretch marks just because he had fallen in love with the 20-something version of her? Would Dean even remember her at all? She ran through her plan again in her mind again. It sounded really stupid, now. At least it would let her make a quick exit if things didn't work out, though.

She broke out in a cold sweat when the house came into view. It was just as she had remembered it, maintained well, but not changed. It was like a holy place, kept perfectly through the ages in reverence for what it represented.

She pulled up to the house and parked. No one emerged, so she would have to go in. She would have to go knock on that door and see the unrecognition or even disappointment in his eyes. She needed to go tell him about his sister. Opening the door, she slid out and hopped to the ground and stretched her legs. Suddenly, a braying roar filled the air and a wall of fur launched itself from behind the house and came for her. "SIT!" Karen yelled. Her command, though impressive, appeared only to be a gentle suggestion to the monster that continued to charge her. "STAY!" Karen shouted. This recommendation also appeared to go unheeded.

"BUSTER, NO!" a voice from the porch yelled, and Karen couldn't help but stare at her first glimpse of Dean in decades. He looked wild. Wild hair, wild beard, a body that had to be formed by the wilderness, itself. Not a drop of civilization tainted the essence of this man; and it made her want to laugh and cry at the same time. Karen began walking toward him, completely forgetting about the fearsome beast avalanche coming to bury her. Dean jumped down from the porch and began running toward the flurry of fur and teeth that had bent its path upon Karen's destruction.

A split second before Buster reached Karen, the passenger of her vehicle silently flew out, tackled him with a full-body slam and the two went rolling back from where Karen now stood next to Dean. The two tumbled, tearing up the grass and knocking over the woodpile in the commotion. Buster yelped loudly and jumped free of the massive shaggy-furred beast that was still intent upon teaching him some manners. "Judith, come!" Karen called, and with a final snarl at Buster, Judith returned to where Karen stood and sat by her side, still glaring to where Buster stood looking dumbfounded.

"Well, I'll be damned;” Dean murmured, looking at the still-cowed Buster in wonder.

"Girl dog privilege," Karen replied simply. "What is that thing, anyway?" she asked, nodding to where Buster now stood whining and trying to approach the growling Judith.

"Bernese Mountain Dog; Great Pyrenees; and probably a bit of German Shepherd;” Dean murmured, turning toward her. His eyes traveled over her slowly and boldly.

"Judith's Akita and Malamute; she was turned into the shelter because she always thinks she's right," Karen said. "That, and she farts something awful."

"Well now, that happens;” Dean said. He took a step closer, still staring at her, taking in every detail. He began walking a slow circuit around her, stopping and holding up his hands when Judith growled a warning at him.

"Judith, release," she said quietly, and the dog relaxed. Karen's cheeks throbbed with warmth under his examination. What was she thinking, showing an old woman to this man with such quick and intelligent eyes and expecting him to do anything but scoff? Anxious, she decided to go into her prepared speech, "Um; Dean; I'm sorry to come without calling. Um; you may not remember me, but I was your sister Dana's;"

"Hello, Kare;” he said, reaching his hand up and running it through her short red hair, as if it saddened him. "She's gone, then. I wondered; when she stopped writing. She said you'd been visiting her; about six weeks of growth here," he said, looking at her hair.

"She; She said she hadn't seen you in years;” Karen said, confused. "She said you were a crusty old mountain hermit that hated everyone and everything! Dammit! Day said you'd been living on tree bark and moonshine so long that;" Karen yelled, until he interrupted her with a warm, slow kiss. Karen jumped at the contact, trembling inside as he ran his other hand along her ribcage, before drawing her closer, squeezing her against his hard body. It had been so long since she had been kissed like this, like she was the only water in a desert land. Her legs went weak and she wrapped her arms around him for support. After several long minutes of enjoying the feel of his lips against hers, the way his beard tickled her chin, she came up for air. "Why didn't she just tell me? Why'd she have to make it seem like;"

"That girl always did like winding you up," Dean laughed, lifting her up in his arms and carrying her into the house.

After kicking the door shut, Dean put her down on the sofa where they'd fallen asleep together decades ago and began pulling her shirt off. Karen clutched it against her nervously, stopping him. "I, um; I'm divorced; my husband left me for another woman; and; I'm; I'm old now, Dean," she said.

His warm eyes sparkled, "You don't say?" he chuckled, stripping off his shirt to show his broad chest, a large surgical scar that had faded with age transecting it. "Day said you'd had some babies, too. I bet they're beautiful; but this twat's mine, now." He went lower and started pulling off her yoga pants as she squealed and tried wiggling away. Then, realizing how ridiculous she was being, Karen laughed and took off her shirt and bra, throwing them aside.

Dean climbed off her and shucked his jeans quickly, his erection bouncing out as he stripped off his underwear.

"Oh; that's nice!" Karen said, grinning as she looked at him. "Um; if you need to use him sooner than later, I've got some stuff in my purse for; you know, vaginal dryness. No offense, but things don't work the way the used to down there since I started menopause."

Dean raised an offended eyebrow at her and lifted her legs over his shoulders, "Well, let's just see what me and my beard can do about that first;” Karen's eyes went wide as he bent low and began sucking on her clit, rolling it with his tongue, then she screamed and laughed as his bushy beard tickled between her thighs and brushed over her bottom. Dean growled low with appreciation and slipped two fingers inside her, stroking upward against her G-spot, rubbing it, ruthless in his patient onslaught.

Before long, Karen's body was on fire. She was wetter than she'd ever been in her life, dripping and screaming as his stroking fingers squelched inside her. Her orgasm gripped her entire body and she rose up off the couch, crying out his name as she squeezed his head between her thighs, the strong contractions inside her gripping his fingers tightly. Karen's intrusive thoughts, her bitter grief and loss, abandoned her as she basked in the hungry and adoring attentions of the man she'd loved for most of her life.

Dean laughed as he lowered her legs down and climbed up to kiss her again as she panted after her release. "Now how on earth is that twat so tight after four babies?" he asked, nibbling on her neck.

"Kegels; vaginal floor exercises; lots of getting myself off to romance novels; that 'husband stitch' stuff is bullshit," Karen panted. "Oh; that was amazing, Dean. Can I return the favor? I'd love to feel you in my mouth; I've dreamed of it over the years, seeing you watch me suck on you. I was getting myself off to it when I woke up in the night."

Dean leaned up on his elbow and smiled down at her under him. "We've been a prize pair of fools all these years, haven't we? I should never have taken you back to New York; I kept telling myself you couldn't be feeling the way I was. I didn't even try to talk with you about it. I was such a damn fool; now I'm stuck with a cock that makes me decide between a fuck or a blow job because the one I don't choose will have to wait for morning. What I would have done with you thirty years ago;”

"Who says I'll be here in the morning?" Karen said, coyly.

"I do, woman," Dean growled, kissing down her chest and around her tits. "That vehicle you drove up here in just became a lawn ornament. I'm stealing your spark plugs when we're done here. Welcome to life on the mountain."

"Excuse me, but I have grandbabies, mister!" Karen said, "there's no way you or even my ex-husband are keeping me from them."

Dean thought about it for a bit, then let out a grumbly sigh. "Well, all right, then. We'll invite 'em up here for Christmas and such. I make a good Santa, these days," he said. Then, he looked her over with an appraising eye. "You know, you've got a lot more spit and vinegar in you than you used to have. You know your mind; you speak up for yourself," he said approvingly.

"I should have learned how earlier; it would've saved us both some grief," she said, smoothing his hair away from his face and smiling up at him.

"Nana always said 'It does no good to should all over yourself,' so that's what I've decided to live by," Dean said. "Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll use this thing before it goes away." With that, he moved himself to her slick entrance and pushed deep inside her. They both gasped at the sensation, and Dean lowered himself to kiss her again as a tear slid down her cheek. "Now, none of that; we're here now. Those dumb kids we were probably would have screwed it up, anyway. Thank God, I have you now," he whispered, moving inside her and reveling in the joy of their reunion until it burst over them in laughter and tears.

They kissed and cuddled until nightfall when they noticed both Buster and Judith were watching them in their intimate activities. Karen scolded the dogs for their impropriety, while Dean laughed and made them all some food.

As they got ready for bed, the two couldn't help but watch each other constantly, smiling at the reality of what they had wished for, for so long. Karen, wearing one of his flannel shirts had just slipped under the covers, when Dean came into the room holding a small box. "What have you got there?" she asked him, turning on her side, and exposing her smooth hip for his interested inspection.

"Couple rings;” he said, opening the box and taking one of them out. "I got these from a salesman who came up to the door with his wife a few weeks ago. Odd fellow, wore an overcoat and kept his hat on, head hunched into his shoulders. His wife was this long, willowy type, towered over him like a tree does a rabbit, but you never saw two people more sweet and lovey with each other. Anyway, he showed me these rings he'd made, all kinds and types and told me to choose a couple; they came in pairs, see. I didn't see the need for 'em, but he was pretty insistent, so I took these just to make him happy. Told me to hold on to 'em until I met the right one and then to give one to her. He said they're special; 'magical powers,' and such. I figure this one belongs to you," he said, taking her left hand and slipping it on to her ring finger. Dean took the other and put it on his own ring finger and for a second, Karen could have sworn that the rings emitted a pulse of light.

"Magical rings, huh?" Karen said, blushing at his unspoken meaning in giving her the ring, and blinking back tears of happiness. "I'll settle for cuddling your back while we sleep. We've got all the magic we need, right here."

Dean settled into the bed beside her and kissed her forehead, then her nose, and finally her lips. "The road was long, but it finally brought you home; thank god," he whispered. After they drifted off in each other's arms, the dogs joined them on the bed, watching over them in their blissful sleep.

Karen woke early, the sunlight streaming in through the window and into her eyes. She stretched her neck and sat up in bed, marveling at how happy and rested she felt. She hadn't felt this good in years, she thought to herself. Must be that fresh mountain air.

She looked down to where Dean continued sleeping, his broad back turned to her. With a mischievous smirk, she snuck off the bed and went around to his side and put her head under the covers. Without waking him, she took his dream-hardened cock between her lips and began sucking on its head. A rumbling growl of appreciation from Dean vibrated the bed. Karen giggled and sucked it deeper into her mouth, licking and sliding it to the back of her throat. "Oh; god, woman, that's beautiful;” he sighed. She kissed down to where his balls, surprisingly firm and full, rested on his thigh and took them into her mouth and hummed happily, letting the vibrations go all through him. She moved back to his cock and began sucking again, stroking him in and out of her mouth, deeper and deeper. "Let me see you;” Dean panted, and tossed the blanket aside, only to yell in alarm the moment she came into view. "Ah! What The Hell? Karen?"

Karen stumbled back, falling down on her bottom, "What? What's wrong? I was just; Ah! Dean???" she yelped, scrambling backward until her hand got tangled in her long hair below and pulled on her head. "Ah? What the; why is my hair so long? Dean? What happened to you?" she yelped.

"What do you mean what happened to me? Oh my god! What happened to you? You're; you're like; look!" he said, pulling her up from the floor and moving her in front of the mirror in the bathroom.

Karen's wide, green eyes stared at their reflections in the mirror in open-mouthed shock. "Dean;?" she whispered, raising her hand to her face. Her face was smooth and plump, still rosy cheeked from her excitement at sucking on him as he slept. Long, thick, red hair ran over her shoulders and down her back. Dean was just as transfixed, leaning closer to where his youthful face looked back at him. "Dean; we're young again;”

"How is that possible?" he murmured, looking down at her again with amazement.

"I; still remember my life and everything; I remember everything;" Karen began.

"Yeah, me too, but my body is completely;” he said, trailing off as he looked at Karen. "It's like we've got our young bodies with our old brains or something;”

"But it doesn't hurt anymore; all those things, all those terrible wounds that were etched into my skin, carved into bone; the memories; they don't hurt anymore!" she exclaimed, grabbing onto Dean's shoulders in excitement. "What happened to us?"

"Rewinders;” Dean said, raising his hand up and looking at the ring on his hand. "Rewinders. That's what he called them. I remember; it was weird, and I thought he just misspoke; he was such an odd little fellow. Holland; Holland and Daya, his wife."

"Zendaya," Karen corrected him.

"Right, Zendaya; wait," Dean said, turning her to face him, "Kare how did ‘you ‘; know her name?" he asked.

Karen blinked in surprise. "I; I just knew. Dean, how did I know that?" she asked.

"Do you; do you suppose we'll get old again if we take them off?" Dean asked, twisting the ring around his finger curiously.

Karen covered his hand with hers, "Let's find out later. I, uh; I need your help with something," she said, pulling him by the hand back into the bedroom.

Dean roared in laughter, "Kare, hon, if I've got my 20-something cock back, you're going to need my help with a ‘lot ‘; of things before I'm done with you," he said, following her back to bed.

Based on a post by LingeringAfterthought, in 3 parts, for Literotica.