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[flippin_peachy]

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[pagekaren]

[Karen considers the question for a moment - it's not something she usually talks about. But she's been trying to be more open about it, in recent years. And moreover, he deserves to know what exactly she means when she says her life has been a mess for a long time.]

No, it's okay. Uh, my mother died when I was 16, and he just kind of...checked out, you know. He's been in a fog since then. My brother and I were running the diner, but it wasn't exactly turning a profit. So I, uh, started selling coke for my ex. He was a real piece of shit, but I was just an absolute asshole. Anyway, my brother got into it with my ex one night. You know, trying to look out for me. I took off with my ex, we were drinking and getting high, and when we got back to his trailer, Kevin had set it on fire.

[Karen gives him a sad little smile at that.]

My ex went after him, so I shot him in the shoulder and got my brother out of there, but I was driving and I had no business driving. I flipped the car. Kevin died and it was my fault. I don't even blame my father for kicking me out, but uh, yeah. I haven't been back home since then. I couldn't even go to his funeral.

[flippin_peachy]

[Alfred listens quietly but exhales long and low at the news of her brother dying so violently, his eyes growing sympathetic and concerned.]

Sounds like a bloody mess all over, I'm sorry about your brother and father. I can see why you haven't been back home at all, with so many ghosts I wouldn't either.

[pagekaren]

Thank you. I think about sneaking back sometimes, but...[she trails off, her one good shoulder lifting in a shrug. She's never seen her brother's grave. Hasn't seen her mother's since she left.] I don't think there's any way I could go without my dad hearing about it, and that would be...well, messy.

[Not to use the same word twice, but it's the most fitting. She gives him a smile, shifting her hand to pat the back of his.] Sorry. I know that's heavy.

[flippin_peachy]

It's okay, I asked and I appreciate you telling me.

[He appreciates her being open with him and after a small pause he decides to do the same.]

I wasn't kicked out but my father and I had a lot of angry words when I joined the service when I was sixteen, he was furious that I would throw my life away like that and make my Mum worry so much about me.

[pagekaren]

[Karen shifts in her chair a bit, leaning forward so she can rest her chin in her hand. She's listening attentively, a thoughtful furrow in her brow.]

I'm sorry, I can't imagine what that must have felt like. Joining the service is a big decision to make. What made you want to join up? And I think I remember...you said you and your dad made a peace of sorts after a while?

[flippin_peachy]

We did, sadly it wasn't much long after that he died.

And I joined because it was the only chance I had at something better. [He says with a little shrug.] Where I'm from you're basically only ever going to amount to working at a factory, a pub or stealing and dealing.

[pagekaren]

Oh, that's terrible timing. I'm glad you got to reconcile with him, though. I'm sure that meant a lot to him too.

[Her head tips a bit, an understanding smile turning up the corner of her mouth at his shrugged explanation.] Considering I was dealing and working at a diner, I get it. Guess rural Vermont has more in common with England than I thought.

[flippin_peachy]

[Not wanting to get into the details of his father's death, Alfred nods and slowly runs his fingers across the back of Karen's hand.]

Rural Vermont and East London specifically. [He muses and removes his hand from hers so she can go back to eating.]

I can picture you working at a diner though, in one of those short little skirts and aprons...

[pagekaren]

Never would have thought Fagan Corners would have anything in common with a city the size of London.

[Once his fingers run the length of the back of her hand, she turns her hand over to echo the gesture, letting her fingertips graze along the under side of his wrist. She can't help but laugh, moving to eat another fry.]

You're going to feel like a perv when I tell you it was my family's diner. I wore jeans and a tee shirt every day. I only wore short little skirts when I was selling at parties or at the strip club.

[flippin_peachy]

Why would that make me feel like a perv? I wouldn't have been looking at your family and besides I bet you still looked fit in jeans and a t-shirt.

[He says with a grin.]

[pagekaren]

Mm, well, considering I left when I was 19, you'd only have about a year and a half window there.

[She arches her brow pointedly, though she still looks amused.]

I'll wear jeans next time I see you and you can decide for yourself. It'll be better than this look, at least. [Which she's pretty sure can be considered 'hospital chic' at best.]

[flippin_peachy]

Oh I don't know, the color kind of brings out your eyes.

But if you're not loving the look I can help you change into something more comfortable after you're done eating.

[pagekaren]

Wow, you're a prodigious flirt. [Karen sounds genuinely impressed - she's even smiling a little, and she points a fry at him.] Cheeky.

[She considers the offer as she dips the fry.] I don't mind the scrubs top, but I definitely want to get into a pair of sweats. Will this be the least sexy way you've ever helped a woman get her pants off? [The question is full of dry humor.]

[flippin_peachy]

Very much so.

[He laughs and has a few more of his own fries.]

It will definitely be one of the more unique but considering it's you, it will still be plenty sexy.

[pagekaren]

You're doing wonders for my ego. It was even more bruised than I am.

[It's either a testament to his flirtation or her fair complexion that she's still getting pink in the cheeks. She finishes off the slider shes been idly eating in the lulls in their conversation.]

Want to know something?

[flippin_peachy]

[He likes it when he can make her blush, it's charming and very cute.]

Sure.

[pagekaren]

[Karen leans in, as if conspiring to tell him an actual secret. Even though she's already starting to smile.]

I really wanted to jump your bones that night you stayed over.

[flippin_peachy]

[He laughs and leans in enough to kiss the tip of her nose.]

Really? Did you toss and turn all night thinking about it?

[pagekaren]

[Her nose crinkles playfully after he kisses the tip of it, and she smiles at him as she shifts her hand to rest on his forearm.]

You would've known if I did that night. No, it has been a...distracting thought, though.

[flippin_peachy]

A pleasant distraction I hope.

[He says with a little smile.]

[pagekaren]

Oh, I'd definitely call it a pleasant distraction. [She returns the smile as she answers.]

[flippin_peachy]

Well that's not so bad then, so long as I'm not distracting you from work or the reason you got hurt tonight.

[pagekaren]

No, no, that was all on me. We're working with a CI that stopped responding to us so I went looking for him.

[flippin_peachy]

Let me guess, when you found him he was in trouble and you decided to step in?

[pagekaren]

That is a good guess, but the actual answer might be worse?

[Karen makes a face, considering him for a moment before she continues.]

Uh, have you heard of Daredevil?