Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Title: The Tackle Pt.  02 - Consequences


Summary: Events and revelations threaten a brother and sister's love.


Keywords: inc,fic





   Two Years Later

   "What, exactly, do you mean by 'Maybe we should slow down,' Michael?"

   God, she was beautiful.  Even when she was clearly both exasperated with
me and uncertain about my intentions.  She generally only called me Michael
when she was very upset with me.  It was like an early warning system.  I'd
have to be careful.

   "I mean, we nearly got caught last night.  You were loud and I was,
well, far too involved in how good your pussy felt to even consider the
world outside of the living room.  We were stupid and god only knows what
would have happened if you hadn't heard the garage door opening."

   We were even luckier than that.  Dad didn't park in the garage a lot,
because it was his informal art studio.  If they had just parked out front
and used the main door, they would have seen their children bonding in ways
that they would not have approved of.

   She looked like she was about to cry.  Oh, fuck.

   "Yeah?  Well, to me it sounds more like you're a little tired of the
same pussy.  You'd never even have worried about this when we first got
together.  And...and maybe it would be good if someone caught us.  It would
force you to either move somewhere with me...or tell me that you didn't
want to."

   "Is that what this is about?  I'm not hesitating.  I'm months away from
graduating, then I can get a job anywhere, and start my masters.  And you
can transfer to any school you want.  We can both go far away and live the
way we want to.  We talked about this.  Agreed to it.  We were both excited
about it.  What changed?"

   "Nothing," she said, but she didn't believe it, "I just...you were so
upset and I don't understand why.  Bad things could have happened but they
didn't.  And you've been cold lately.  Don't tell me you haven't!  You've
pulled away from me when I try to hug you.  You've avoided me when I've
been...very, you know, welcoming.  And you keep getting texts at all hours"

   "Well, I can't help the texts.  There are just some people who won't let
go.  And I never meant to be cold, but you're right.  You're right, and I'm
sorry.  I...I keep seeing what would happen if we were caught.  How you
would be treated.  How your future could be impacted.  Would we survive
that?  I don't know, but I know mom and dad would be devestated.  Can you
imagine that?"

   Oh god, now she was crying.  Fuck.  I am not very good at this long-term
relationship thing.  And the truth was, I already did have a plan if we
were caught.  I always told her not to say anything and let me do the
talking, and being the trusting little sister she was, she agreed.  I would
confess to taking advantage of her, using her trust of me to manipulate her
into a sexual relationship, and we'd see where things landed.  She'd deny
it, which would just make people think that I'd really done a number on
her. Victims are treated differently than co-conspirators, even if there is
no crime.  I would do anything to keep the stigma of being my willing
incestuous lover from my sister's name.  I might go to jail and I certainly
would be out of the family.  But she wouldn't be.

   Not that she'd ever agree to that plan, which is why I never told her
that part.  But I didn't want that.  I truly and really did want to move
away with her, like we discussed.  Well, mostly.  The big difference
between the two of us was life experience.  I worried, a lot to be honest,
about whether something this serious was good for her.  Could I truly be
said to be thinking like a good big brother while I was bending her over
the kitchen table on the regular?

   I had broached the topic of her dating other people.  I would wait for
her, maybe date but keep everything light and non-sexual if she wanted.  I
had been kind of a slut for years, and that just seemed fair to me.  It
would be...well it would be hell, even imagining Jamie with someone else
made my heart ache, but I had to put it out there.  This wasn't a normal
relationship and we were making up the rules as we went.

   For some reason that I sincerely cannot understand, she interpreted this
as a flimsy excuse.  A smokescreen I was using to cover a cowardly exit
from our relationship.  Didn't she understand that even bringing it up made
me nauseous?  Things hadn't always been like this.  In fact, they really
didn't get bad until the last month.

   She'd gotten more clingy (although certainly nothing beyond what would
be considered normal in a traditional relationship) and even hornier. 
She'd also been more reckless than I'd ever seen her, and it worried me. 
If I refused her or deflected her advances, even if only until later in the
day, she became silent and depressed.  It was like I was the analytical and
logical partner and she was thinking with her emotions and genetalia.  I
wasn't comfortable with this switch in roles and I had no explanation for
it.

   "I'm sorry.  It just seems like every day we move further apart and no
closer to getting out on our own.  Just promise that you aren't leaving me
behind.  I just...I just need to hear it from you."

   I hugged her and held her close.

   "Tiny, I'd honestly rather be hit by a car than leave you.  I'm not
going anywhere.  It was your plan to take our time and be careful until I
graduated, remember?  I was the one who wanted to rush off and get a crappy
local apartment so I could do more unspeakable things to you in privacy. 
Your way just makes more sense for our future together.  We'd only have to
pretend when we came home to visit mom and dad, or when friends visited us.
I really can't wait.  I just want you to be sure that this isn't too early
for you."

   She smiled a little.  Thank god.  I could see her fidgeting with the
string on my hoodie as I pressed her to my chest.

   "I know.  Its just getting...really hard.  My brain keeps making up
these...horrible scenarios where we fight and then you go back to lots of
girls and I'm just...just me.  Alone.  I'm sorry I said what I did."

   And like previous storms, this one was over just as fast.  I was certain
that she loved me, but at this point I felt like everything else was up in
the air, or at least resting on a very shaky foundation.  I wasn't sleeping
well, I was having trouble dodging questions from my friends and family
about my love life, and the combination of work and school was wearing
pretty heavily on me.

   "Things have been tough on both of us.  Honestly, it's only the thought
of you that gets me through some days.  Just give it time, and trust me."

   She nodded and cuddled more into my chest.  I knew her well enough to
know that my smell and the softness of the old hoodie I was wearing were
both very reassuring for her.  I hugged her because that was all I knew to
do.

   Everything would be fine.  It had to be.

   ----------------------

   Interested Parties - Mike

   ----------------------

   Jamie glanced at the clock.

   "Oh shit, its three!  I need to change!"

   It was, in fact, my 24th birthday.  I'd invited my close friends and
Jamie had done the same.  Well, honestly, her friends had subtly also
become my friends.  I didn't really mind though.  I think she was looking
forward to the party more than I was.  It was an excuse to get together and
talk about nerdy shit, which she was always up for and I found extremely
endearing.

   We had persuaded mom and dad to take a weekend getaway, telling them
that we'd like to have a party and we weren't sure how late it might go. 
Our parties were pretty laid back and the worst we got up to was smoking
weed.  As long as we stayed out of mom's stash, they were fine with us and
our friends.  It would, not coincidentally, give Jamie and me some badly
needed time together.  I wanted her, almost as badly as I had before our
first time together.  Our last attempt had been interrupted by our parent's
early return, and before that we hadn't had sex in two weeks.

   I understand how that must sound, but for us it was a lifetime, even
with late night mutual masturbation or cunnilingus.  We were in love, and
having my cock deep inside her as often as possible seemed to be as vital
to both of us as breathing.

   Unsurprisingly, Ellie and Julian showed up first.  They tended to think
we needed help with this sort of thing and they liked to come early in case
there were any last minute tasks.  They were right, of course.  Our
argument had lasted longer than either of us had planned, so we hadn't
completed a few of things.

   "Could you guys cut the little things into smaller things?  We really
need to put the stuff in them and get them into the oven."

   She was talking about cutting some crescent roll dough from a can and
filling it with some chorizo and then baking them into delicious little
spicy savory meat rolls.  Jamie could communicate like that, and her
friends almost magically knew what she was talking about.  Hell, I did too.
It was another thing about her that I found adorable.

   She noticed me looking at her as she finished frosting some cupcakes and
she shot me a sexy little smirk.  That was another new thing.  It seemed
like she was teaching herself how to tease me.  Probably there was a
subreddit she frequented and some spreadsheets with lists of behaviors and
results noted.

   I'm not complaining and I wouldn't change any of it for the world. 
Sometimes I wonder if mom and dad would accept that we were lovers simply
because we understood and just accepted each other in ways that only family
could.  It was wishful thinking.

   She was dressed rather casually.  Or at least that's how others would
see it.  She wore a long-sleeved white sweater, just tight enough to show
her curves but not enough to make out any detail of her fantastic breasts.
Her knee-length skirt was a deep blue, and no-one could call it immodest.
It was made of light material that hung off her hips just so, loose enough
to rise and fall as she walked, tight enough to just slightly restrict her
movement.  She wore it for me, I knew.  Partially because her preferred
casual wear was simple pants and sweatshirts, but partially because of what
she was doing.

   She was finding a lot of excuses to bend over, and each time she did,
the dress rode up a little higher.  She wasn't looking in my direction, but
she was making sure that it stayed that way...until the next time. 
Finally, the skirt lifted up to show just the bottom of her lovely,
upside-down heart shaped ass.  Her skin was pale almost to the point of
translucence and I knew from first hand experience how it felt firm but
yielding in my hand.  The chorizo wasn't the only thing that was spicy. 
Her panties were clearly new as I hadn't seen them before.  They were black
and lacy, barely big enough to be called clothing.  I was transfixed. 
She'd never really wore sexy underwear, not like this.  She was stepping
out of her comfort zone, for me.  And holy shit was it hot.

   "Uh, wow," Julian said.  Being the only man I knew who was possibly more
of a horn-dog than I was, he would be the one to notice.  Thankfully his
entire attention was diverted by the vision of loveliness that was my
sister's ass so he didn't see me looking.  God that was a sentence I never
thought I'd write.  Ellie hit him on the shoulder.

   "Jamie, you're giving this pervert a show," she said, being a solid
friend, as always.  I liked her.

   "Ow, I was going to say something," Julian said, defensively, "In a
minute.  Or two."

   Jamie fixed her dress, but didn't appear to be bothered that someone
other than me noticed her shapely bottom.

   "It's no big deal.  Its just you guys, and my brother," she said,
smiling innocently.

   "Don't encourage Julian.  He's got enough plates in the air," Ellie
said.

   Ellie was probably right.  Julian typically was dating between one and
three people at any given time.  He was the cute artist type so he could
get away with it.  Ellie, however, was a different story.  She had deep
olive skin and curves for days with well-proportioned very natural looking
large breasts and ass.  Some may have considered her to be overweight, but
nearly all of the men I knew just called her sexy.  She was confident with
her body, not to mention smart and, like my sister, pretty nerdy.  She'd
been engaging in an endless war of teasing with Julian.  He knew she would
go out with him, but it would have to be exclusive.  He wasn't ready to
give up the endless stream of college girls.  I couldn't blame him, but
Ellie would absolutely have been someone that I would have pursued in the
time before I acknowledged my feelings for Jamie.

   I might look at Ellie, but what I felt for my sister meant that I was
never tempted to stray.

   She was working with Ellie and Julian, directing in the kitchen, moving
things around, putting snacks on plates just so.  Normally I would be right
in there, doing whatever it was she felt most important.  Today, I was
prohibited from doing so on the grounds that it was my birthday.  She had
arranged everything for this party on her own, and had hinted at more when
we were alone tomorrow.  Our parents didn't get home until Monday, and I
was very much looking forward to whatever her vivid imagination had come up
with.  For a second I had a vision of her as a mother, maybe ten years
older, managing a kitchen of laughing and running children.  I realized
that it was possible for me to love her more than I did, a prospect I found
almost frightening.  Knocking at the door disrupted my thoughts.

   "I'll get it," I said, striding to answer it.

   It was Stevie and Greg, who were still going strong, thankfully.

   "I'm sorry, we had to park you in.  Some jackass parked their silver
Nissan on the curb so badly that there's no room for any other cars," Greg
said, rolling his eyes.

   "No worries, we're not going anywhere until tomorrow," I said, thinking
hopefully about what might happen later tonight, after our guests left.

   A few minutes later the rest of our short guest list arrived: Irwin,
Trina, and Rebecca (who seemed to show up everywhere together anymore).  I
had invited a few other friends but, unsurprisingly, they had prior plans
to fly to Vegas to drink and womanize for the weekend.  It was the sort of
thing I used to enjoy, so I didn't hold it against them.  We'd hit the bar
together when they got back.

   Time passed.  We drank and ate unhealthy snacks.  Irwin told stupid
jokes.  We hung out in the living room.  Later we'd play Cards Against
Humanity.  I could see how some people would see this as boring, but
honestly it was everything I wanted.

   A buzzer went off in the kitchen, indicating that something delicious
was done.  Jamie started to stand up but I waved her down.

   "You can sit for a while, I haven't done anything.  I'll plate the food
and bring it out.  Anyone need anything while I'm up.  Beer?"

   Jamie shook her head but Irwin and Trina waved empty bottles at me.  I
took them and went to the kitchen.

   "I'll help," a familiar voice say behind me.  And that's how Ellie got
me alone, in the kitchen.  I don't know how I missed her obvious
intentions.

   While I eased the food out and set it on the stove top to cool, Ellie
got beer for Irwin and Trina, which was nice of her.  What I didn't expect
was how close she was standing behind me when I turned around.  It was
actually a little spooky how quietly she had moved.  Like a panther
stalking its prey.  She had a knowing little smirk on her face as she moved
even closer.

   "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately," she said ominously.

   "Oh?" I said, trying to hide my anxieties by quickly swigging my beer.
My history of promiscuity was, yet again, coming back to haunt me.

   "I've been wondering why it is, that no matter many signals I put out or
times I flirt with you, you've never just taken me back to your room, bent
me over, and given me the good hard fucking that I deserve," she said,
stepping so close that her nipples, which I could now see very clearly
through her tight black shirt, were maybe an inch from my chest.

   I barely avoided spitting my beer out on her.  Jesus Christ where was
this girl three years ago?  Probably underage, I reminded myself.

   "I, uh, kind of gave up the player life," I said lamely, "it wasn't
really satisfying any more."

   "Hmm," she said, thoughtfully, her voice low and husky, "I figured as
much.  But...you know it wouldn't just have to be sex if we were together.
It could be more.  If that's what you wanted."

   Fuck, I was getting an erection despite myself.  I slid desperately
around her, snagging the snacks and moving back towards the living room.

   "I...I'm just a little weird about being romantic with my sister's
friends." I doubted that she bought it but it was the best I could come up
with being as flustered as I was.

   "Mike," she said, calling to me back from the kitchen.  Thankfully she
didn't seem upset by my rejection, but she didn't seem to have given up,
either.

   "Yes," I said over my shoulder, stopping briefly.

   "I'm going to find out who your secret lover is.  It's the only
explanation for why you haven't fucked me or any of the other girls I've
noticed throwing themselves at you.  I don't know why you've kept her from
us, but you must have your reasons.  I'm going to find out who she is and
tell her that she has competition.  I'm very good at finding things out,
you know."

   I made a noncommittal noise and moved back into the living room.  She
was a journalism major and was, in fact, very good at investigation.  God,
thats just what I needed, Ellie watching me like a hawk.  Jamie gave me a
raised eyebrow when I came back into the room.  I just shrugged helplessly.
The irony was that if I could just tell her that I was with her best
friend, she'd back off, immediately.  She wouldn't ever betray Jamie. 
Neither would I.

   Thankfully, aside from some intense gazing, Ellie didn't press the issue
any more that night.  It was, on the whole, a fun and successful event, and
relaxing.  Jamie even managed to usher everyone out fairly early talking
about how tired I had been.  It helped that the weather was turning nasty
and we could hear thunder in the distance.  I was tired, but I wasn't going
to sleep until I'd had want I really wanted for my birthday.  What I
desperately needed.

   Jamie had just finished showing Rebecca out.  As soon as she had turned
around I was on her, pushing her small body against the closed door.  I
wasn't rough, but I was firm.  She whimpered a little, in anticipation.  I
pressed my body up against hers, feeling her softness yield to me, her
nipples already hard like pebbles.  She was so much smaller than me, it
made me want to protect her.  It made me want to take her.  I stroked her
hair how she liked and leaned in and kissed her.  She responded with her
whole body, the way no other girl did.

   She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer and then raised
her leg and hooked it around mine, grinding against me.  I was so hard that
I hurt.  My need to get laid was overwhelmed by my need to be with her.  We
spent so much time pretending, so much time concealing.  We we let
ourselves come out, we were barely in control.

   I reached down, pulling her skirt up, putting my hands on her bare legs.
God they were so smooth and soft.  I didn't care if she ever shaved but
when she knew we would be together she always did.  Once she knew that
something that she did turned me on, she never forgot.  I lifted her up and
she wrapped her legs completely around my waist.  She was so light, so
perfect.  I tried to focus on walking up the stairs but she kept licking
and kissing me on my neck.  I made it up and took her to my room.  To my
bed.

   I set her down softly.  Normally I could be aggressive and she was game,
but for whatever reason slow and gentle seemed right for tonight.  She took
off her sweater slowly, letting her full breasts pop out in that perfect
sexy way.  They seemed a little larger to me recently, but no less firm. 
She unbuttoned her skirt and slid it off, taking care to maintain eye
contact.  The little tease.  She leaned back on her arms and had her legs
pressed together chastely.  She wasn't fooling anyone.  All she had on were
the tiny black panties that she'd flashed me earlier in the day.

   "Did you get these for my birthday?"

   She answered by smiling her sinful little smile.  The one she saved only
for me.  At first she had been very innocent.  Before we became lovers she
had barely even watched any porn, and even that she had regarded as
"research" for how to please men.  Well, how to please me, specifically. 
Which was flattering, but it took a while to get her to just be natural, to
let herself go and enjoy herself.  She was up for nearly anything I wanted
to try, and for her part always wanted to engage in new, uh, roleplaying
scenarios.  Complete with outfits.  Those nights were always fun.

   I took off my clothes, faster and clumsier than she did.  I went to the
bed to unwrap my best present.  I slowly pulled off her panties, revealing
a small, neat landing strip of blonde hair.  That was new.  She usually
kept it natural, which was fine with me, but I guess she was still full of
surprises.  The soft and musky scent of her sex intoxicated me, and I could
see that she was already very wet.  God she must have needed me at least as
much as I needed her.

   She spread her legs for me, inviting me in a way she know I could not
refuse.  God I loved seeing her when she was ready for me.  I couldn't wait
any longer.  I moved over her, putting the head of my cock right at the
folds of her entrance.  She gasped and bit her lip, ready.  I couldn't
resist waiting for a moment and teasing her.

   "Please," she said in her small voice, the one she knew I could never
resist.  Her eyes were big and needy, the way I liked them.  Even now she
was still very much my little sister, trying to get her big brother to be
with her.  I entered her, slowly, carefully.  For whatever reason the
natural protectiveness I felt for her was very strong that night.  It could
have been all of the effort that she had put into making this weekend
special.  It could have been a reaction to how emotionally fragile she'd
been lately.  It could have been that even in my distracted state I knew
something had changed.

   She inhaled sharply as I filled her then moaned deeply as took a long,
slow stroke.  We were alone and she could be as loud as she wanted to be.
She did't talk much during sex any more, but it wasn't a bad thing.  She
said everything she needed to with her body.  She briefly held my head with
her hands so she could show me her small, loving smile, and lock eyes with
me, before my steady and deep fucking made her lose focus in a series of
gasps and whimpers.

   Her legs locked around mine, her left hand gripped my hair and pulled me
closer as her right reached behind her and gripped the low headboard for
leverage.  With every full stroke she pushed back, rolling her hips and
grinding her clit against me.  I wasn't the biggest man, but I knew I had
to be careful sometimes as she was so petite compared to me that I was in
danger of hitting her cervix, which hurt her.  She loved being filled
completely, however.  So tonight I went long and deep for her.

   "Fuck, baby, your cunt is so perfect.  How is it still the best after
all this time?  Yours is the only one I think about any more."

   "God...talking like that...is going to make me...oh...oh..."

   As her first orgasm hit her by surprise, I felt her back arch a bit and
her hands wrapped around my back in a desperate attempt to bring me closer.
Every act of intimacy with her seemed to pull us closer.  We were like
objects in space, sometimes wonderfully together, other times frustratingly
and torturously separated, only able to look and pretend.  This was
starting to wear on me.  It didn't make me love her any less, but it did
depress me when all I wanted was the ability to fuck my girl and take her
on regular dates where we wouldn't have to worry about shame or judgement.

   My pace increased as I began to use shorter, faster strokes inside her
wet pussy.  This wasn't for her benefit, but because I was running out of
self-control.  She had begun to clutch and squeeze at my cock with her
vaginal muscles.  It made me grunt every time, which in turn raised her
arousal.  We chained off each other, every touch, every stimulation
amplified and returned, with interest.

   "I love how you grip me baby"

   As I felt her approaching her second orgasm, I pushed myself completely
inside her and worked my hips against hers, giving her both the sensation
of being filled and something to grind her swollen clitoris against.  I
supported myself with my left arm as my right grasped her breast and played
with her nipples, always a sensitive place for her.  I kissed her neck.

   "Oh god.  Like that.  Please, please, please..."

   Jamie came like a wave rolling over her, her whole body shuddering, her
cunt spasming around my cock.  She was mewling and whimpering now, very
aroused.  I loved making her feel like that.  I wanted to give her a third
one tonight, one that she liked to call "deep orgasms".  She told me that
it was like being swallowed by a wave and pulled down by the undertow,
falling into darkness, completely unable to control her reactions.

   I loved to give it to her because she needed to be with someone she
trusted completely to have one.  I would always do my best to be that
person.  I was still her big brother, even if I was inside her.

   I started to move faster and a little harder, going back to long
strokes. I saw her eyelids flutter and she stopped talking, only moaning
and whimpering.  Her head moved side to side and she bit her lip in
concentration.  It began to pull her under.  As I felt her cunt grip me
with incredible tightness, she arched her back, hard, pressing her self
against me almost painfully.  Her legs were around my waist now, pulling my
cock as deeply as I could go, instinctively guiding me towards her hungry
womb.  I was over whelmed as I heard her cry out a scream of pleasure.

   I came in incredibly powerful spurts, my cock aching with the force.  I
was buried so deep inside her that I knew that I had bathed her deepest
places with my seed.  I leaned into her wrapping my arms around her as I
felt her orgasm completely release inside her and her arms and legs went
limp.  I rolled over.

   I held her as she came down, pulling her tightly to my chest.  I kissed
her hair and caressed her as she liked.  She would at times cum so
intensely with me that we had a "cool off" ritual that we did.  It was
mostly cuddling and me saying soothing things to her, but she would stay
agitated if we didn't do it.

   "That's it, Tiny.  That's my good girl.  You did so well, cumming for me
like that."

   She whimpered and cuddled her head into my chest, which I knew as a good
sign.  She was comfortable, satiated, and safe in my arms.  She said so
much without speaking.

   I'd never been with any woman who was so sensual in the moment, or who
lost herself so completely in pleasure.  It was intoxicating and it made my
orgasms stronger, my need to fill her more urgent.  I marveled at how I'd
gone from multiple partners per week to finding it unimaginable to make
love to anyone but Jamie.

   The price of this intensity, for her, was vulnerability.  She had
difficulty with any loss of self-control, and only her near-complete trust
of me allowed her to let go so completely.  She said it was like falling
into the most wonderful pleasure, with me to catch her at the end before
she hurt herself.  I know this probably sounds odd, but I think of it as a
side effect of her brilliance.  She thinks differently in nearly every way
from me, even if we do agree on many things, so why not also with sex?  If
my parents hadn't been distrustful of doctors, I suspect that they would
have an explanation for it.

   I didn't really care.  I loved her for how she was, no matter what word
you used to describe it.  Tonight I had cum inside her, like many times
before, but it still felt like the very first time to me, even after two
years.  We'd sleep in the same bed, unworried about being found out or
caught.  I'd spoon her and she'd eagerly cuddle into me, asking me to wrap
my arms tightly around her.  She might even wake me up later by grinding
her incredible ass against me, something that always led to her getting
fucked.

   I was so grateful for this moment.  I couldn't imagine a future without
Jamie beside me anymore.  I slept well that night.  Even with the future
being uncertain, I knew that this was how I wanted to live, unashamed and
with the woman I loved.  Forever

   ----------------------

   Surprise Moves - Mike

   ----------------------

   Waking up in her arms without having to worry on anyone walking in on us
was a wonderful gift on top of being able to make love the prior night.  As
I'd expected, she'd woken me up in the night by grinding her ass against my
cock and I took her from behind, gently and lovingly.  To me, it felt
almost like we were married and celebrating our anniversary.  Before I left
for work I told her how wonderful the previous day was and how lucky I was.
She smiled mysteriously.

   "Oh, your birthday isn't over yet.  Wait till you get home tonight..."

   Well, that caught my interest.  I would not be making any stops on the
way home.

   I took a shower and threw on some clothes.  Shortly after kissing Tiny
goodbye I was driving down the interstate, about five miles from the gym
where I was working as a personal trainer.  It kept me busier than I liked
but the work was steady, never boring, and most importantly, paid well. 
Well enough to put the deposit down on one of the apartments that we were
looking at in Pasadena.  Even as expensive as they all were, we could find
something big enough for both of us in a decent area and I could make
enough to pay the rent.

   As long as nothing changed in the next month or so, we should be fine.
The key would be to stay on course, and do nothing that would alarm anyone.
It would be odd for both of us to move to the same city, but at the same
time it made perfect sense.  I knew that there weren't a lot of jobs in my
field here and I'd been talking for months about moving out west where I
could find something more easily while continuing my education.  Jamie was
brilliant but didn't always do well among unfamiliar people.  If she wanted
to pursue some of her more intensive ambitions, she'd need to go to a
school with a better name than the local state college.  We'd broached the
subject with our parents and they actually looked relieved that we were
thinking of moving together, even if they would miss us.  They knew that we
would watch out for each other, although they were probably more worried
about Jamie.  I don't think they needed to be.

   I got off at my exit, and stopped at the light, which was blinking
yellow.  I noticed that the signs and streetlights were all off, leaving
the busy commercial street unnaturally dark.  Was there a power outage from
the storm last night?  I saw the gym coming up on my left.  I wish that I
hadn't allowed myself to be so distracted by plans and my own anxieties
that I hadn't figured out what was bothering Jamie so much.  I put my foot
on the gas.

   My phone buzzed.  I would check it when I had parked, I was dumb about a
lot of things but I never texted when I was driving.  It was probably
Jamie, maybe even sending me a sexy selfie.  I smiled as I thought about
whatever it was that she had planned for later that evening.  I did worry
for a second that something might have happened to her or that she might
need my help.

   There was a silver blur to the right, just in the very edge of my
perception.  I remember nothing after that.

   ----------------------

   Unintended Consequences - Jamie

   ----------------------

   I'd done all the research, I knew what was happening.  Hormones shifted
rapidly during the first trimester.  It was normal to have an increased
libido.  It was normal to have rapid emotional shifts, including some mild
depression.  Even the fatigue I was feeling right now in the morning, when
I was normally very awake and active, was perfectly normal.  I saw the
doctor to get the last test and she said that everything looked normal too.

   If I wasn't such a coward, he'd know how normal it was too.  Then maybe
we'd fight less.  Maybe he'd help me come up with an explanation good
enough for mom and dad, or our friends.  I typically did that kind of
thing, but my brain seemed stuck in either panic or fuck-me mode lately,
which wasn't conducive to problem-solving.

   At this moment I was simply focused on accomplishing the task I had
before me.  I was headed to the mall to buy some nice lingerie for the
evening that matched the rest of my outfit.  Mike had shared some fantasies
with me and I had done some snooping.  Well, investigation really.  Mostly
talking to Irwin about the kind of women, fictional or otherwise, that Mike
liked to talk about (Irwin was one of only three other people who knew our
secret, mostly because he was living it too).  Things he might not share
with me because, despite us fucking like rabbits for almost two years, he
still sometimes thought of me as an innocent that needed to be protected.
Sometimes he just wasn't logical about this sort of thing.  On the other
hand, his protectiveness was what made me fall in love with him.  I've
always been so awkward but he made me feel like his princess.  I know how
corny that sounds, but its true.

   It made it difficult to prepare my last surprise of the weekend for him.
I had spent a lot of time on my outfit, given that I only intended to wear
it for an audience of one person.  He would be thankful that his loving
sister was so good at cosplay later tonight.  I allowed myself to think of
his face when he came home and saw me, dressed like Jill Valentine.  His
very favorite character from his very favorite video game, with very
removable clothing, matching lingerie, and a willingness to role-play any
way he wanted.  It was the best gift I could think of.  I hoped that he
would like it.

   Tonight would be the right night to tell him.  I could make it right,
relaxed and romantic.  I could make him see that we could be good parents
together, just like we made a good couple.  It would bother him but I
didn't mind putting off my education by a few years, if that was what it
took.  I knew him.  He was the most loving and accepting man that I'd ever
known.  He'd view this baby like I did, as a gift.

   He had to.

   This is what I was thinking about when my phone buzzed.  I thought it
might be him so I pulled over.  One missed call, one new voicemail.  I
didn't recognize the number.  I listened to the voicemail.  A very solemn,
businesslike voice spoke

   "This is Karen Bills with St.  Raphael Hospital.  You were listed as an
emergency contact on the phone of a relative.  It is not the policy of the
hospital to provide details over voicemail but if you contact me
immediately at..."

   My stomach dropped.  My vision blurred.  I called the number.  I didn't
want to.  I wanted to just sit there a while, live in the time before I got
the call.  But I couldn't.  No one could.  There was only one person in my
family who knew enough about technology to use the emergency contact
feature on his phone.

   "St.  Raphael Hospital"

   "Hello?  This is Jamie Parnell, I just received a call from this
number." My voice was so stable.  How was it so stable?  Who was this cold,
unfeeling person using my voice.  I was transferred immediately, no hold,
no waiting.  Why wouldn't they let me wait just a little longer?

   "Ms.  Parnell this is Karen Bills.  Your brother has been in an
accident. He is alive but due to the severity of his injuries he will be in
surgery for at least another hour.  Details will be scarce until then. 
Will you be able to come and represent his medical interests?"

   His medical interests.  Interests like what is his insurance and should
he have more surgery or should we turn off life support.  This wasn't
right. I was going to dress up for him later tonight.

   "Yes, I'm coming right now.  I'll inform our parents."

   Then I hung up.  I texted mom.  She always checked her texts and I
didn't trust myself on the phone.  I drove to the hospital at exactly five
miles over the speed limit.  No traffic stops now please officer my brother
might be dying.  And he's also the love of my life so you see its obviously
a bad time for a traffic stop.

   I'm pregnant with his child, so it's a particularly bad time.  Oh no, I
haven't told him.  Why would I rush that?  We have so much time.

   We're going to go away together.

   ----------------------

   Collateral Damages - Jamie

   ----------------------

   Arriving at the hospital was kind of a blur.  They made me show my ID
but I got straight through.  Then I waited.  Mom called, I told her
everything that I knew, which wasn't much.  I had a suspicion, but I didn't
have enough information to prove it.  Yet.  I told her that I would be here
if...when...he woke up.  My voice finally broke and I couldn't stop crying
for a while.  Mom let me go.  They wouldn't be here until tomorrow morning
at the earliest.

   I was in the waiting area for friends and family.  Alone.  I could smell
the disinfectant everywhere.  Had they just cleaned?  It was making me
lightheaded.  Or was that the fear?  I finally remembered that I didn't
have to be alone just because my parents were far away.  I called Irwin. 
He answered quickly.

   "Jamie?  Whats up?  Need anything?"

   Being my brother's best friend and one of the only people who knew what
he really meant to me, I knew I could trust him.

   "Michael...he's been in an accident.  I don't know how bad.  He's in
surgery and I'm at the hospital.  I just thought I should tell you," I
wanted to beg him or someone to come, fast, but I couldn't.  It seemed
improper, like it would be horribly rude.

   "Holy shit.  Look, uh, I'm on my way.  Don't go anywhere.  Shit, you
won't, I'm just saying, I'll be there soon.  And don't worry about the
others, I'll let them now."

   And he was gone.  Thank god he understood me so well.  I was in danger
of becoming non-verbal.  Sometimes it happened.  I don't know why.  I just
got so frustrated and...shut down.  I wouldn't let myself today.  Today it
was too important that I stay aware.

   What if he woke up?

   (What if he didn't?)

   I might have been there another twenty minutes.  Could have been longer
but when I looked up Rebecca and Trina were there.  Trina was gently
touching my shoulder.  I guess they'd been saying my name.  I stood up and
they hugged me.

   "We were only right down the road so we just came straight here when we
heard."

   "Thank you."

   Before too long everyone was there.  I'd assumed that at least some of
them wouldn't have made it.  But they all did.  I learned later that Ellie
took unpaid time off to be with me.  They all said lovely things but I was
just glad they were there.  I didn't really need anything else from them.
And it would have made him feel good to know how fast they showed up.

   There was a man standing in front of me in scrubs.  He was obviously
important so I listened to him.

   "Ms.  Parnell?  Your brother is in recovery.  He's not out of the woods
but we, uh, we repaired everything we could.  I'm optimistic that if we
keep his brain swelling down, that he will survive."

   Survive.  Nothing to say beyond that.  Well, I did love him no matter
what.  And alive was better than dead.  I nodded.

   "I'd like to see him now."

   "He isn't quite awake.  And it's likely he'll be in and out of
consciousness for the foreseeable future.  He's going to need extensive,
uh, pain management..."

   "I'd like to see him all the same."

   "Of course, just making you aware of what to expect.  Go through those
doors, the nurse will take you the rest of the way.  Until he gets out of
recovery your friends will have to wait here."

   I nodded and began to walk.  I heard Rebecca say something.  I didn't
make out what it was but it was reassuring.  I walked down the halls,
smelled something awful, heard the quiet beeps of the machines.  Finally,
she ushered me to his side.  He was in a large room with many beds in it.
There were only baby blue curtains for privacy.  Huh, baby blue.

   Oh god.  I knew what he would look like but it still shocked me.  I was
sickened and then felt guilty for being sickened.

   He didn't look like himself.  I felt so much pain and love for him, but
I just wanted him to look like himself again.  He was swollen with injury
and fluids; filled with needles and covered in bandages.  I said his name,
he did nothing.  He was still out.  I decided that I would stand by him for
a while and hold his hand.  I talked a little.  I told him that our friends
were there, and they missed him.  I told him I loved him, but I was afraid
to say how much.

   I could never shut off my mind though.  So I let it work.  I spoke with
one part, and let my mind build the story of what happened.  He had a
massive bruise on the inside of his left arm.  The left side of his head
was bandaged.  His legs were both secured firmly and I suspected both were
fractured.  I turned his hand over in mine.  They had cleaned him well but
there was still a great deal of blood under his fingernails.  And there
were light scrapes on his knuckles, which glinted with particles of glass.

   That fucking bitch.  How could she pretend to care about him and then do
that?  How could I be so stupid?  Why didn't I warn him?  I even knew that
she drove a silver Nissan.

   It would have to be her, the only one that looked like me.  But not as
hot.  I smiled despite myself my anger.  That's what he had said, without
thinking.

   After a while, I don;'t know how long, it was too short.  The nurse
ushered me out.  They were going to do some tests and then make sure he had
the right medicines and then he would be put somewhere.  She didn't know
where, but she told me that she would be out to tell me as soon as he was
situated.  She promised to do it herself.  I hugged her, which she didn't
expect, but it was important to hear the promise that I would see him
again.

   I went back out.  I told them the news.

   "He's...he's out.  You'll all be able to see him once he gets moved.  It
wasn't an accident.  Amy tried to kill him.  She tried very hard."

   Everyone looked at me.  No-one said anything.  Had I offended someone?
It was hard to tell when they were all as emotional as I was.

   "Um," Julian said, "the officer was just here and he called it an
accident."

   I shook my head, sadly.  I understood now.  I saw him and I saw him the
way I see things.  Not like them.  I sighed.

   "He has to say that.  But it was her.  Greg saw her silver Nissan parked
out front during the party.  She had probably watched him for a long time.
I'm sure she was still texting him, trying to get his attention, but I
can't prove it.  He was hit intentionally though, and she seems the most
likely to have done it."

   "Ok," Irwin said, "but would you mind, um, sharing?  How you know?"

   Irwin probably just would have taken my word for it had he been the only
one there.  He knew my mind pretty well.  But the others didn't.

   "He was hit from the passenger side.  His body shifted to the right in
the impact and his left arm caught on his seat belt, bruising him very
badly.  Then the left side of his head impacted the window on the way back,
probably cracking his skull."

   Julian winced, and I felt bad for him, but I couldn't stop now.

   "Then he was upside down.  His hands weren't seriously hurt but there is
a lot of blood under the nails.  They cleaned him up but didn't get there.
That was because he was hanging upside down and his blood was pooling
beneath him."

   Rebecca had her hand to her mouth.  I think Trina wanted to throw up,
but I couldn't stop.

   "All this means he was hit almost at a perfectly ninety-degree angle,
which is rare, at terrific speed.  I could calculate if I saw the impact
damage.  I think a passenger would have died.  The way he takes to work
only goes by a few residential side streets off to the right that are long
enough to get that kind of speed in a four cylinder Nissan.  Of those, only
one doesn't have speed bumps that would make it impractical.  That one is
right before he turns for work, where he would be slowest and most
vulnerable.  That's why she was following him, to find the perfect spot"

   "I wonder if she survived," Stevie said, "I wonder if she meant to."

   "I think so.  I know she survived the first impact so she was wearing
her seat belt.  His hands had scratches on them, and the scratches had
small pieces of glass embedded.  He didn't get that from the first impact,
but from when she backed up and hit the car again.  At least once.  Then
his knuckles scraped the ceiling where they were hanging and got scraped
and picked up the glass that had fallen there.  I think that's when she
broke his legs.  If her car still worked after that then she probably just
drove away.  But I bet it didn't and she had to walk."

   Trina ran for the bathroom.  I felt bad, but I had to get it out.  To
share it with someone.  Rebecca hugged me.  The image haunted me.  And now
they saw it too.  I was sorry that they did, but I couldn't have stopped.
It would have burned me if it had stayed inside me.

   "Wait," Ellie said, "do you think he was still sleeping with her?"

   I laughed.  He was both too loyal and too busy to have done that.  The
things I had said the other day were from my own insecurities and
apprehension about the baby.

   "No, he doesn't even have the time to cheat and wouldn't do it anyway."

   Oh shit.

   Ellie looked confused.  Irwin and Rebecca shared a look.  Trina had just
left the bathroom and her eyes got wide.

   "If he isn't seeing anyone, how can he be cheating?" Ellie said.

   No.  My stupid thoughtless mouth.  Always getting me into trouble.

   "Now...now really isn't the time to gossip about my brother's sex life."
I tried to sound appropriately offended.

   "Oh god, you're right, I'm sorry."

   Thank god Ellie backed off.  She had already noticed that I'd been more
tired lately, always asking if I needed anything.  I think she'd guessed
that I was pregnant, and she couldn't stop her mind any more than I could.
I could see her lining up all the men in my life, like suspects.  She
wouldn't ever try to hurt me or Mike, but she might, given her crusading
personality, think that he had somehow taken advantage of me.  Or that we
both needed psychological help.  They she'd tell people no matter what I
wanted, for my own good.  One more thing to worry about.

   A man in a rumpled suit came in, a badge hanging from a lanyard on his
neck.  This must have been the detective who came and spoke with everyone.

   "Ms.  Parnell?"

   I nodded

   "I apologize for bothering you, but we need to clear some things up. 
We've apprehended the individual who we believe is responsible but she's
making some rather strange claims.  She appears to have been stalking your
brother for some time, and from what she's said it's likely that she was in
fact spying on him last night."

   Last night.  When we had been...oh no.

   "She said she saw your brother having sex with a small blonde woman. 
Were you home last night?  Did you see anyone like that?  We'd like to talk
with her to see if she might confirm some details for us."

   He asked the question so innocently, pretending to be unaware that he
was talking with a small blonde woman.  I could see that despite his
careless appearance, this was someone who would follow this chain of
questioning to the end, even if it wrecked the lives of the victim and
everyone around him.  He had a need to get to the truth.  In the past I
wouldn't have been able to tell this, but even before we had become lovers
Mike had sat with me and explained how people lie and manipulate.  He'd
even role-played scenarios out with me so I could be better prepared.

   People would love to judge our relationship but find me another man who
would have done that for me, for no reason other than I needed help.

   "Sir, I...I don't feel comfortable speaking about my brother's affairs
while he's like this.  I'm sorry but it just seems wrong.  He was a victim
and he deserves his privacy."

   The detective sighed.

   "Ms.  Parnell, I can understand your concerns, and I know this is a
difficult time.  But a crime was committed, an attempted murder, in fact.
So I will need to know everything and I will know everything, sooner or
later.  I'll come back tomorrow morning, and if you continue to be
obstinate I'll have to be a lot less friendly about the way I go about my
investigation.  I'm sorry."

   As he left the lobby I could feel Ellie's eyes boring into me.  I could
envision her trains for thought as logic eliminated one possibility and
then another.  Soon only the truth would be left.  I had to do something
about this, and soon, or else Mike would wake up to public humiliation, or
worse.

   ----------------------

   Dark Certainties - Jaime

   ----------------------

   I loved my brother, and I respected him, but after being with him for so
long as both his little sister and now his lover, he had a really hard time
of keeping any secrets from me.  I knew that if we were caught, his plan
was to take all the blame and pretend that he had taken advantage of me. 
What terrified me was that it might work.  It wasn't hard to imagine a
scenario where despite my pleading he was arrested and we were separated
forever.  The thought made me shudder.

   I would not allow that to come to pass, no matter how noble his
intentions were.  Better to out us now and endure the shame and rejection.

   Still, there were our parents.  It would horrify them, and they would
become the source of endless gossip and speculation.  How bad were they
that their children had broken such a taboo?  I didn't think that they
would disown either of us, not once they understood that we were both
consenting adults when we got together and that we loved each other very
much.  Having said that, it is likely that they would lose their friends,
much of the rest of the family would stop speaking to us, and locals would
stop purchasing dad's art.  We could easily wreck their lives, while we
simply managed to escape elsewhere and start over.

   I would not allow that to come to pass, either.

   The real problem was that my pregnancy would get out.  Probably tomorrow
when the police came back, but certainly later.  Ellie knew that neither me
nor my brother were dating, as would the police, soon.  They at least
suspected that he was having sex with a blonde woman.  Of course, they
would suspect that Amy was lying, but to what end?  And Ellie would dig if
she wasn't satisfied with the answer.  We needed an answer that satisfied
all parties: friends, family, and police.  I needed help.

   I apologized to Mike in my head.  He would not end up being the first
person that I told of our baby.

   "I'm going to go get some food at the cafeteria.  You guys can go home
for the night.  I'm going to stay but I'll be fine."

   While I said it I looked at Irwin, significantly.  I hoped he got my
meaning.

   "Oh..hey, I'm hungry, why don't we go with you," he said, indicating
Trina and Rebecca.

   Perfect, exactly the three people that I needed to speak with.  I
thanked everyone for coming, hugging Ellie extra-hard.  She might have been
a pain but it was from the best of intentions, protecting me and wanting to
fuck my brother.  I could empathize.

   After they left, the four of us went down the hospital cafeteria.  It
was late but they were still selling sandwiches and drinks.  We got some
and I led us to the most isolated part.  We sat down in silence.  Everyone
started eating, but not talking.  I think they wanted to wait to hear what
I had to say.  I did one more mental checklist before I asked.  It was a
big ask, and I wanted to be sure that I didn't have a better option.  I
couldn't think of one.  I finally spoke.

   "Irwin, I need a favor."

   He looked up at me, surprised at the breach of the silence, but nodded
quickly

   "Name it.  Anything."

   "I need you to be my baby's father."

   Rebecca spat out her cola and Trina's jaw dropped.  I realized that I
had made a basic communications error but I didn't have a lot of time. 
Irwin must have suspected what I was getting at because he just nodded.

   "Trina, if you could have an affair with Mike that would really help me
out with the cops."

   She and Rebecca looked at each other and then me.  They clearly
understood.

   "What I'm asking you to do will be embarrassing, and if it gets around
some people will think less of you.  They might see both of you as cheaters
or worse, in Irwin's case.  They'd think of him as someone who knocked up a
girl and abandoned her."

   Trina and Irwin looked at each other and held hands.  Then they both
looked at me and nodded.  Somehow they still loved each other intensely,
and both of them loved Rebecca as well.  It worked for them, and I wasn't
going to judge.

   "Oh my god this could be a lot of fun," Rebecca suddenly said, "we need
a story.  Something juicy enough that people will want to buy it but not so
depraved it fucks up your friendships."

   To my shock, Irwin and Trina looked just as amused as she was.  I didn't
entirely understand my friends, but I loved them.  I realized that I was
crying a little.

   "If it doesn't work, and things go badly...I want you to know that I
love you and appreciate what you're doing.  What you've already done.  Mike
would agree with me.  He always tried to protect me.  Always.  It's my turn
now and you're helping me.  So thank you for that."

   Tomorrow was coming, fast.  I hoped that we were ready enough.

   ----------------------

   Decisive Actions - Mike

   ----------------------

   I remember being in and out.  I saw people.  Once I thought I saw Jamie
holding my hand and talking to me softly.  I really don't have any detailed
recollections from then.

   My first real memories were coming to in the morning, being groggy, and
surrounded by family and friends.  That made feel warm and happy inside. 
Well, it was that or the morphine.

   Jamie was close and looked down at me.  She looked so tired.  Why wasn't
she sleeping?  When no one was looking she put her fingers to her lips. 
Did she not want me to talk?  Huh.

   "Ok, I won't say anything," I said.

   She put her hand to her forehead.  Everyone else in the room looked at
me.  Oh hey there were cops here.

   "Why are there cops here?"

   There were two officers in uniform and one guy in a suit with a badge
around his neck.  He had to be in charge.

   Our parents were there, and so were most of our friends.  Something big
must have happened.  I wish someone would tell me what, I felt dumb being
the only one who didn't know.  And why was I laying down while everyone
else was standing?  I was obviously being very rude.  I tried to stand up,
but Jamie gently pushed on my shoulder and shook her head.  I trusted her
judgement.

   Plus, it hurt to move.  A lot.

   The uniformed officers were talking with my parents.  They looked at
Jaimie with concern.  The detective walked over to her.

   "Ms.  Parnell, I'm going to need to ask you some questions now.  I'm
sorry, but I'm going to have to be direct with you as your brother doesn't
seem to be in any state to answer.  We have reason to believe that the
suspect isn't lying, but we need to know who your brother was having sex
with last night.  We need to speak with her to verify certain details...If
you don't tell us, we're going to start making assumptions..."

   Oh shit.  Ellie looked like she had just realized something and had a
little "o" of surprise on her face.  I was suddenly a lot more aware of
what was going on.  This was it.  We were caught, and it was time for me to
step up.  I opened my mouth to speak but before I could...

   "It was me," Trina said, "I was fucking Mike.  I came back afterwards
and seduced him."

   Holy shit, I didn't remember doing that.  But I was really out of it so
I guess it could have happened and I just forgot.  God, that was a dick
move.  I looked at Irwin.

   "I'm sorry man, that was a dick move.  My bad."

   But Trina, who had come over to stand beside me with her hand on my
shoulder, wasn't done.

   "But it was revenge!  I mean we loved every minute of it, Irwin, but we
only did it because of what you did with Jamie.  You bastard."

   Trina was really emotional now.  The detective and the officers looked
uncomfortable.  Ellie looked like she was watching a really amazing soap
opera.  Mom and dad were just really confused.

   "Oh god," Jamie said.  She covered her face and looked so sad.  I really
wanted to comfort her.

   "Yes," Irwin said, putting his arm around her, "Its true.  I slept with
Jamie."

   Oh shit.  That was so not cool.

   "Irwin man, that is so not cool."

   "I know, but it only happened the one time," Irwin said, "we were drunk,
the moon was out, it was a mistake!"

   "It was enough though," Jamie said quietly, all eyes on her, "I'm
pregnant.  I'm about two months along."

   Holy fucking shit, I thought to myself.

   "Holy fucking shit," I said loudly.

   The fog that had been around my brain began to clear.  I didn't remember
much right before the accident, but the day before was crystal clear.  I
knew I was with Jamie.  So everyone must be covering for us.

   And also I was going to be a father.

   I reached out and held Jamie's hand.  Mom ran over and hugged her.  In
the background I was vaguely aware that Irwin and Trina were yelling at
each other.  Our friends looked horrified.  Except for Rebecca who was
having a hard time keeping a straight face.  The detective was backing
slowly out the door.  The uniformed officers were long gone.  Everyone
looked unhappy.

   I wasn't.  I had a huge stupid smile on my face.  Jamie saw it and
smiled back, tears appearing in her eyes.  I couldn't say anything, but she
knew how I felt.  That was the important thing.

   Now Irwin and Trina were calmer and seemed to be talking things out. 
Did they work out a script?  It looked like Rebecca was mouthing their
lines from the back of the room.  Drama students.

   Irwin kissed Trina.  Stevie and Greg were hugging.  Julian was crying.
Although it was fake, it was really touching.  Not least of all because two
people I loved had just embarrassed themselves and one had taken
responsibility for our baby, publicly.  There would be no shadow of
suspicion over Jamie or over our child.

   "This is seriously like some Grey's Anatomy level shit, guys." Ellie
finally said.  It was all the drama she could ever have hoped for.

   Mom and dad didn't care about the rest of it.  One child was injured but
would recover with their help.  The other was pregnant and needed their
support.  That was all that they cared about.  At that moment I appreciated
them more than I ever had.

   Nothing would be easy, but at least we had a chance.

   ----------------------

   Recovery Options

   ----------------------

   I should talk about how hard it was to recover.  I mean, it was. 
Really. It took time and effort.  Even though one of my legs healed
quickly, they told me that the ankle of my left leg would probably always
be somewhat sore, and that I would most likely need a cane for the rest of
my life.  The doctor said it with a somber tone like he was telling me that
I had cancer.  Maybe because I was still so young.  I smiled and thanked
him, to his confusion.

   Walking with a cane is a ridiculously small price to pay for my youthful
carelessness.  I mean, yeah, I work on my leg constantly, the same kinds of
exercises that I'm going to end up putting others through, but if I have to
use this stupid thing forever, I won't complain.  What makes me most
grateful and that keeps me from hating Amy or myself, is that Jamie wasn't
in the car.  And so her and our baby were unhurt.

   Our baby.  Just thinking it makes me a little lightheaded.  But not, as
it turned out, anxious.  I thought I should be.  Jamie certainly thought
that I would be, or at least unsure.  The opposite happened.

   I was absolutely confident that Jamie and our child were my future.  The
knowledge that I would be a father soon made me feel like I had been
drifting my whole life, even when I was working towards a goal like my
degree.  Everything else fell away.  I knew that my goal was to keep them
safe, happy, and loved.  That was pretty much as simple as it got.  I was
afraid, but it was like the anticipation before you get on a
roller-coaster. Pleasant, exciting fear.

   Plus, I found the idea of Jamie being pregnant with my child to be
almost unbearably hot.

   After getting out of the hospital, we'd managed to convince everyone
that I needed some time away to recover.  Jamie would come with to "help
take care of me" given that my limp was still pretty bad.  Irwin and Trina
also went on their own vacation, although they were pretending to be
"working on their relationship".  The irony that the people who pretended
to have cheated on each other were more in love than ever was not lost on
me.

   It had been over a month since Jamie and I had anything like a chance to
be alone together with everything that entailed.  We had rented a small,
single-story beach house on the gulf coast.  Just a kitchen, a bedroom, and
a place to sit where you could see the ocean.  It was enough for us.

   The plane ride was delicious agony.  As soon as we took off we couldn't
help but touch each other.  It was fairly innocent as these things go, but
just putting my hand on my baby sister's leg was making me ache for more
and I could tell based on her breathing that she wished that I would move
it up by about a foot.  We were both all smiles though.

   It was the off season so it was a bit chilly, although nothing like at
home.  The skies were grey and low, and it was drizzling.  I guess anyone
else might have been disappointed by the weather.  Not us.  We were already
going to be in a fairly isolated part of the coastline.  Anything that
might persuade other people to stay away from the beach was fine by us.  It
might have been selfish of us, but we really needed our alone time.

   We stopped on the way and bought groceries since we didn't intend to
leave.  We barely got them put away before she took my hand and led me to
our bedroom.  She would turn out to initiate sex with me much more often
while she was pregnant.  I wasn't complaining.

   I helped her take off her loose but comfortable sun dress, then her bra
and panties.  Although not very visible from outside of her clothing, her
baby bump was obvious when she was nude.

   "You look amazing like this," I told her for the tenth time that day. 
She laughed.

   "You're starting to make me feel like I won't be as attractive once I
have your baby."

   "Nonsense.  Then you'll be the mother of my child and I'll find you
unbearably sexy all of the time."

   "You say the loveliest things.  I guess I should show you my
appreciation."

   She got on her knees in front of me.  Slowly, agonizingly slowly, she
unbuckled my belt, unbuttoned my jeans, and unzipped my fly.  She reached
inside and pulled my cock out, by now painfully hard.  Before I could adapt
to the lovely feel of her small warm hands on my cock she had started
kissing and licking at me.  I didn't know how long I would last but oh fuck
her mouth felt so good.

   Jamie took just the head in first, swirling her tongue around it, making
me moan.  She followed that up by steadily taking half of my cock inside
her mouth while her hand worked the other part.  She varied the speed and
moved her tongue so she paid attention to every part of me.

   "God.  That feels so good, Tiny.  I need this so badly, you don't even
know."

   She stopped briefly and smiled at me.

   "I think I do know.  It was all I could think about for the last few
days at home and then on the plane.  You were stuck in that hospital bed
with no one to take care of your...other needs.  I wanted your cock in my
mouth so much.  I missed your taste."

   I think my cock twitched in her hand as she said those wonderful, dirty
things.  She took me back in her mouth, this time working me in earnest. 
She started to deep throat me, and I felt her small throat tightly wrapped
around my cock's head.  It was getting to be too much.

   "Baby I'm not going to be able to last much longer..."

   "Good.  Give me your cum.  Let me taste it and swallow it and remind you
why you love me so much."

   I didn't need any reminders but god the way her hand moved, the way she
used her tongue on the most sensitive spot on my head.  I groaned and came,
spurting rope after rope of thick seed down her throat filling her small
mouth.  It was too much for her to swallow, far too much.  I had been pent
up for too long.  She had to let me out of her mouth while I was still
going, and cum splashed on her lips and chin and cheek, dripping off onto
her full breasts.  It was a mental picture that I cherished.

   I went and found a towel and came back and cleaned her face and chest,
gently.  It was part of the way I cared for her and showed my appreciation
for what she did for me.  The other part came next.

   She helped undress me next, as was our way.  Then I led her to the bed
and gently pushed her onto her back.  I was doing pretty much everything
with her much more gently these days.  I didn't miss the hard fucking as
much as I thought I would, although I was sure that it would come back
after the baby was born.

   I moved over her and started to kiss her full lips and then her neck,
which made her whimper, then I moved down to her breasts.  They were always
a place that she loved me to touch her, and even more sensitive now.  I
kissed one while my hand worked the other.  I took my time, licking around
her areola before sucking her nipple into my mouth, simultaneously gently
pinching the other one between my thumb and forefinger.

   "Oh fuck...yes.  Please, keep going.  I need it baby.  I need you to
taste me..."

   She had arched her back and then lifted her hips up, pushing for any
sort of contact.  I smiled but didn't want to torture her after all she had
done for me.  I kissed my way down and over her baby bump, finally reaching
her sex.

   Her clit and lips were swollen and ready, bathed and glistening.  The
sheets beneath her were already getting wet.  She moved her legs over my
shoulders to give me better access.  I started slowly, just barely licking
and kissing her lips.  Then darting my tongue inside her briefly.  She
moaned and whimpered.

   "Please.  God.  Please.  I've missed you so much."

   I moved up and began to lightly lick her clitoris, provoking some louder
moans as she pushed up her hips to gain more contact with me.  I jerked my
head away.

   "Not yet.  Be a good girl and wait for it."

   "Oh...you're so mean," she whined in her little girl voice, trying to
manipulate me into moving faster.  I would not be swayed.  I could see by
the way she was writhing under my mouth that she was going to cum soon and
I wanted it to be as big as possible.

   I started again, this time providing a little more contact with my
tongue on her swollen clit.  As I did so I slowly pushed a finger inside of
her, eliciting further whimpers.  She was close.  I began to work her clit
in earnest, lapping at it at a steady rate of speed while pistoning my
finger inside of her.

   "Fuck, I'm close.  Please don't let me go baby please."

   That was her code for when she was a little scared by how she was losing
control.  As I added another finger I reached out and held her hand in my
free one.  She gripped it so tightly, like she was hanging from a cliff.  I
took her clit into my mouth and applied gentle pressure with my lips as my
tongue worked it directly.  She ground her hips into my face as her free
hand pushed my head down and her legs locked me in place.  I hooked my
fingers and hit her g-spot.

   "Yessssssss, oh god its too much..."

   Then she cried out and arched her back.  It was high pitched and almost
alarmingly loud.  Her body shuddered and her legs vibrated and I felt my
face bathed in more of her wetness.  Finally she collapsed and I heard her
crying softly.  I moved up the bed to her quickly and pulled her to me. 
This wasn't that unusual or a bad thing, but while many people liked
cuddling after something like that, she needed it.

   "That's my good girl.  I hope that was good enough, baby.  You deserve
so much more after what you've been through, what you did for me.  For us."

   Her breathing slowed and became more regular.

   "What I've been through?" she said, "What about you?  You were hit by a
car."

   "Better me than you, and not just because of the baby.  I imagined what
it would have been like if things were reversed.  If you were in that bed,
fractured and swollen.  I don't think I would have handled it as well as
you did, and I know it was hard.  I don't think you suffered any less than
I did.  And you still stayed cool and prevented things from getting worse."

   She laughed.

   "I don't know if I stayed cool, but I was glad that I was able to do it.
It felt good, protecting you for a change.  You should let me take care of
you more often.  We're going to be together for a long time, you know.  And
I'm reliable.  Speaking of reliable..."

   Jamie had noticed that I was rock hard again.  Going down on her always
had a way of speeding up my cock's recovery process.  She reached down and
stroked it gently.  I moaned completely involuntarily.  Later I would
notice that the farther her pregnancy went along, the more reactive I
became to her touch.  I was lucky that she was a good person, because she
could have manipulated me very easily during that time, literally leading
me around by my dick.

   "Do you want inside me baby?  Hmm?  Is that what you've been thinking of
for the last month?  Being back inside your baby sister?"

   She'd gotten a lot better at dirty talk recently.

   "Holy fuck yes.  God yes."

   "I think we're going to have to start doing it a little differently from
now on," she said, sounding a little unsure, "I hope you don't mind.  You
know, to keep the baby safe."

   She rolled over and got on all fours, facing away from me, lowering
herself onto her elbows and bringing her head down.  I did not mind this at
all.

   "Of course not.  I just need your tight little cunt so badly.  I'm glad
you let me cum first.  I don't think I could have controlled myself
otherwise.  Do you need a pillow under your belly?"

   "No, baby, but its sweet you asked.  I probably will in a few months.  I
want to try it while spooning too, later."

   It was just so nice to know that I would be sleeping next to her,
spooning her, and having sex again with her.  No interruptions, no fear of
being caught.  Just two weeks of togetherness, sex, and a chance to get
used to the idea that my woman was carrying my child.  For now, it just
made me harder, more willing to fuck her and make sure she knew who she
belonged to.

   I got behind her and positioned my head right at the entrance to her
folds, which were swollen and more wet than I'd ever seen them.  She
whimpered a little when she felt me there, and tensed up.  I reached out
and rubbed her back gently.

   "It's ok.  I know its been a while.  We're going to be gentle, ok?"

   She nodded and I felt her body relax.  This was important for me to get
right.  The first time after a while.  The first time since I learned that
she was carrying my child.  I entered her, slow and easy, letting her adapt
as I went.

   "Oh, fuck.  Fuck its...more intense.  Oh fuck, I don't...oh wow.  You
feel so good, love.  It feels like so much more with your baby in me."

   This new kind of dirty talk was doing something to me.  It was making me
feel more protective and turned on.  I wasn't used to it but I loved it.  I
groaned as I bottomed out in her, finally filling her completely.  It did
feel different, warmer somehow.  I started to move, smooth, long, slow
strokes.  Taking myself out of her almost completely before going back in.
Every stroke brought a whimper and then a moan out of her.  She looked back
over her shoulder at me, biting her lip, lost in ecstasy, but love in her
eyes.  Love and desire for me.

   I already knew that I wanted to be with her forever, but now I knew that
I would find a way to marry her.  To make her my bride, before witnesses.
It may not be where we grew up or in front of our all of our friends, but
it would be special.  I began to fuck her a little harder, a little
quicker. She pushed back against me, forcing her self down on my cock.  She
was so wet, so aroused that she was starting to cry out after every stroke
now.  Little, high-pitched noises like I'd never heard her make before. 
She was close but couldn't quite make it over the top.  I recognized the
frustration appearing in her voice.

   "Cum for me Tiny.  Cum for your man.  I belong to you just like you
belong to me.  Show me baby."

   As I said it I reached around her and began to touch her clitoris, which
was large and swollen.  I was careful to touch it gently.  I felt her
vibrate underneath me as I took my other hand and took her full breast in
it, squeezing it and pinching at the nipple, a little harder than I would
normally.

   Her body began to shake violently, and my cock was gripped tighter than
I'd ever felt it.  I was deeply aroused but starting to worry until I heard
her moans and sobs.

   "Oh god I love you...pleasseeeee"

   Her words turned to begging, pleading, and expressions of love.  I felt
my self responding and cumming inside her, as hard or harder as the last
time.  Streams of my seed poured into her, marking her, making her mine
again.  It had been too long.  I finally finished, feeling weak, but she
rolled over and shuddered, breathing hard.  My cock came out of her, my cum
flowing out of her well-used slit.

   I quickly wrapped both of us up together in a blanket, pulling her
close, kissing her neck, gently stroking her belly.  She calmed down fast,
faster than normal.  I learned quickly after that night that having my hand
on her belly seemed to calm her very quickly now.  This continued after
she'd had our child, and she'd always say it reminded her that I was her
man and the father and protector of our child.  We lay like that for a long
time.

   Later we woke up together, feeling very close.  I made us some
sandwiches and we ate them, barely wearing anything out on our porch.  We
fucked there afterwards, on the day bed, me spooning her.  It was slow and
loving, to the sounds of the stormy sea.  It was the start of a wonderful
blur of just being ourselves, making love when we wanted to, reading,
talking about everything and anything.  By the end we were more in love
than ever.

   We'd made it through the storm.  We were stronger and closer than ever.
Maybe we weren't ready for anything, but I felt, for the first time in a
while, real hope.  We would protect each other, and our child.

   We would be all right.

   ----------------------

   Infinite Endings

   ----------------------

   "Oh my god, look!" Jamie said, bursting into the living room.

   She was holding a box.  This wasn't odd since it seemed like half of our
things still resided in boxes.  Her excitement on the other hand seemed
deeply unnatural to me as our life for the past months had involved a lot
of opening containers and looking for lost things.

   "Um?" I said, hopefully.  God I hope she didn't wake him.

   "Oh," she said, remembering the sleeping infant not twenty feet away in
our barely affordable two-bedroom apartment.  Thankfully he was like his
mother and could sleep through just about anything.

   "But look," she continued softly, "it's your birthday gift."

   I looked.  I was confused as my birthday wasn't for another month.  At
least the last time I checked.  This had been a confusing year.  Speaking
of confusion...

   "Is that...a S.T.A.R.S.  Uniform?"

   She smiled, a little slyly and just a little sinfully.

   "This is what I made for you last year.  I was going to be dressed up as
Jill Valentine when you got home.  Got the wig and everything.  But
then..."

   Her face fell, she didn't even like to talk about the accident.  I
hugged her.  Also, I really wanted to be close to her because that was
about the sexiest thing I'd heard in my entire fucking life.

   "So, uh...do I have to wait until the next one comes around or can I
unwrap my present now?"

   "Hmm.  I'm not sure I'll still fit.  I'm still carrying around some
extra weight..."

   I looked at her.  She was carrying around some extra weight, although
remarkably little.  Mostly around the bust and hips.  I thought it looked
really good on her, but she wanted to lose it all.  I had no complaints
either way.  We were together, and I had realized years ago that I would
find her sexy pretty much no matter what the circumstances.

   "Well, I mean, if it's not too uncomfortable, I'd love to see you in
it."

   This was the understatement of the year.  Jill Valentine was the hottest
video game character of all time.  You may disagree with me but you are
wrong.  The idea of Jamie dressed as her had made me hard in record time.
She looked down at the very obvious bulge in my shorts.

   "Someone definitely wants to see it.  The baby will be sleeping for a
few hours...yeah.  Let me go see if I can get it all on.  Don't be too
disappointed if I can't," she warned as she walked to the back room to
change.

   "If all else fails, just return naked and I shall endeavor to overcome
my disappointment," I said.

   She just looked back at me and rolled her eyes.  But she was happy.  I
think part of her still worried that I'd find her less attractive after she
had the baby.  That part was wrong.  I loved her more now.  I couldn't
explain it, but once little Irwin came along, my life felt complete.  Yes,
we named him after his "father".  I still had no idea how we were going to
work out the mechanics of telling him his family history, but I suppose
that could wait for at least eighteen years.

   Mom and Dad missed their grandchild, but they came to see him,
regularly. They were very impressed with all the things I did to help Jamie
and said that I'd make a fine father one day.  I had to struggle not to
tell them that day was today.  They talked about moving to be close to us
but we persuaded them to hold off, and that we'd bring them their
grandchild frequently as he grew older.

   Irwin came out pretty regularly to see "his" child.  Typically Rebecca
and/or Trina came too, if they weren't home enjoying being the third
connection in that love triangle.  I thought I was a player.  I don't know
how he lucked himself into that situation but I wished him the best.  The
other benefit of Irwin coming out here with either or both of his women,
was that, like us, they could just live their true life.  No one here knew
us as brother and sister.  We were very careful to compartmentalize and
keep all of our friends here separate from anyone who didn't know the
truth.

   I suspected, although I couldn't be certain, that we ran the only haven
for incestuous couples at Caltech.  Well, near Caltech.  In Pasadena in any
case.

   Mom and Dad insisted on sending us money to help with the baby, which I
was in no position to refuse, although I did make fairly decent money now
as a licensed physical therapist.  It helped with Jamie's continuing
education, although she had quite a few scholarships.  She was my brilliant
baby sister, after all.  Her most recent professor declared her
understanding of systems engineering and model-based design to be "radical,
intuitive, and borderline magical".  She felt bad sometimes about not being
around more, but I was willing to do more than my share until she ended up
with her inevitable PhD.  I had a suspicion that when all was said and done
that she would be the breadwinner and I'd be the stay-at-home dad.  I was
more than fine with that.

   The truth was that we were happy, we had a wonderful child together, and
that, unlike a lot of young couples, we worked hard to be in love.  We'd
had to get past our fears, conceal our love, overcome injury, and more.  We
understood what was at stake, so we made time for each other.  Hell, we
even fought over things in a healthy way.  And there was always make-up
sex.

   "Holy shit," I said quietly as I saw Jamie coming back down the hall. 
Or, Jill Valentine, who she looked remarkably like now.  The one from the
REmake, too.  The best one.

   She smiled her little sinful smile.  This was the way things were.  I
had no complaints.

   For pics visit ---->> https://bit.ly/2ReHUJI