| Disclaimer: I don�t own these characters, I don�t pretend to know all the ins and outs of Law & Order � I�ve just started watching it & I�m picking it up as I go. But the story & ideas are mine� please don�t sue! I W a n t L o v e A Jack/Nora story by Rhonda* "How wonderful life is now you�re in the world." Part twenty-four � My gift is� Monday 24th December � Christmas Eve Charlotte was a beautiful woman the only problem was she knew it. She had the kind of graceful figure that most people only see in films and wonderful auburn hair that hung in thick curls down her back. She dressed for the attention and she flirted for the sheer joy of knowing she could. She�d been married to Peter for only five years, his first wife had died, and his second had been Charlotte�s best friend, she�d left after finding them in bed together. She knew what his family thought about her but frankly she didn�t care. True she didn�t completely love him, she cared about him, and he was fun when he wasn�t working and most of all he had the lifestyle she�d always dreamt of. The money, fancy holidays, fast cars and extravagant gifts, the only downfall was having to spend time here with his judgmental sisters and those dreadful twins who were always far too noisy. She was glad she�d chosen not to have children and even more pleased that Emily was old enough to take care of herself. But this year things looked a little brighter when Nora had brought the rather sexy Jack down to breakfast. She smiled to herself as she swung on the porch contemplating the little games she could play with him over the dinner table, he seemed like a pretty good diversion from the mundinity of normal family chat. He had the kind of eyes she could happily watch her reflection in for hours. The front door opened and she could hear the sound of Louisa shouting at the two boys, she looked round to see Jack holding the door open. He noticed her and smiled. "Hi, need some escape from the madness did you?" "You too by the look of things." He sat down next to her. "Nora�s taking me out for a walk." She stiffened next to him but still a challenge was always fun. "Very nice, have you wrapped up warm it�s always so cold here." "I�m used to it, it�s the same as the city. Guess you�re not." "I prefer somewhere with at least a little sun, Christmas dinner on the beach would be nice for a change." She smiled wonderfully at him and he had to admit she was beautiful, perhaps too much. But after all these years spent weighing people up he knew exactly what she was, a terrible flirt, a back stabber, a money grabber, spoilt little temptation there to lead good men astray, he�d met a thousand of her before. The door opened and Nora came out. "Hi Charlotte." She smiled wrapping her scarf around her neck and buttoning her coat up. "Hello, hear you�re taking Jack for a walk around this wonderful village." "That�s right. Would you like to come?" "I don�t think so, I�m sure you�d like to be alone. Especially after that embarrassment at the breakfast table." She laughed. "Well we all do things we regret." She replied. "Are you ready?" "Sure." Jack quickly stood up and took Nora�s hand and almost pulled her down the steps away from Charlotte. "That damned woman." She said as they made their way down the drive. "Shhh, she�ll hear." "I don�t care." "Forget about her, and tell me where we�re going." He tucked her arm through his and she rested her head against his arm. "I�m sorry, I just don�t feel comfortable with her talking to you all alone on the porch." "She�s nothing special." He stopped and turned to face her fully aware that they were still in view of Charlotte. "Besides I have all I want right here." He bent his head and kissed her hard and full on the mouth and pulled her body tight against his to prove the point. * * * * * Emily didn�t wake until late and the house was silent when she finally made her way downstairs. She passed the lounge where Charlotte was lying on the couch reading and went straight into the kitchen where George was making pancakes for lunch. "Hi Dad." "Morning sweetheart, it�s good to see you. Come give me a kiss." She went to kiss her father on the cheek and helped herself to some of the pancakes he�d already turned onto a plate. On the whole her father was a pretty good man, he had his faults as we all do, namely marrying that woman, but mostly he was a decent person. He was very like Nora, worked hard, liked to help people, was tough as nails but still cared and you could see that when you got close enough. She sat down at the kitchen table and poured herself some coffee. "So where is everybody?" "George and Louisa have taken the boys out to some swimming place to try and exhaust them." He laughed. "As if they�ll ever get tired." He sat down next to her and poured some syrup on his pancakes. "And your good old Aunt Nora has taken that man out." Emily smiled. "You mean Jack." "You�ve met him before?" "A couple of times." "You never said." "Dad we hardly chat of a regular basis, but yes I�ve met him before, they took me out to dinner once." "Seems nice enough." "He�s lovely, and perfect for Aunt Nora." "You think?" "I know, besides its about time she had something good in her life." "Well she deserves it I�ll say that. So you think it will last." "I hope so, they did break up a couple of months ago but it seems fine again now." "I�m in no position to give advice, I never understand relationships." "That I already knew." "And what�s that supposed to mean�." He leant forward smiling. "You know exactly what I mean. Besides we shouldn�t be having this conversation, so what have you got me for Christmas?" "Ah, now that�s for Santa Claus to know." "Come on Dad I�m not a kid anymore." "You�re still mine." * * * * * Nora lay on the bed watching Jack change, she was pretending to read the newspaper but he looked too good stood there with no shirt on. He glanced in the mirror as he combed his hair. "I can see you watching." He smiled. "Really, I was just making sure you look ok to be seen in public, you know clean and stuff." She laughed throwing her paper down. "Hey don�t start that now, you were the one who took me down some godforsaken path in the middle of nowhere." She rolled over giggling. "Where you promptly fell over." "So I was born a city guy is it a crime?" He held his arms up as he came towards her. "Oh no, strictly no law talk this week." He lay down on the bed next to her. "Ok it�s a deal. So are you getting excited?" He took her hand. "About what?" "Presents of course." "At my age, you kind of get over all that. Why are you?" "God yeah, perhaps it�s being here with the kids but I haven�t enjoyed Christmas this much for years." "Really?" "Yeah, you know the whole magic of Christmas thing passes me by usually." "Well you kinda get used to it being here every year. I mean before the boys it was Emily." "And I have a feeling you spoilt her rotten." "Still do as a matter of fact. She�s the closest I�ve ever got to being a mom." He turned onto his side and pulled her closer to him. "Well maybe it�s time somebody spoilt you at Christmas time." "Hmm and would that somebody happen to be you?" "It might." He kissed her. "So what have you got me then?" "That�s between me and Santa Claus." She laughed and sat up. "Hey where are you going?" "To start dinner." "You never cook, besides I hadn�t finished with you." "Oh no, no more of that until we�re safely back home in our own apartment, in private." "Aren�t we staying until New Year?" "That�s right." "I can�t wait two weeks I�ll burst! Can�t we just be quiet about it?" "When have we ever been quiet about �it�." She smiled and got up from the bed holding out her hand. "Now come help me cook honey, so I don�t poison us all." "Woman I won�t even get a reward." "Isn�t just being near me reward enough?" He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Of course. Ok so come on let�s go cook." * * * * * "This was exquisite Nora, and I didn�t even know you could cook." Louisa said. "She can�t." Jack smiled and Nora slapped his arm as she moved round the table refilling the wineglasses. "I had a little help." She smiled sitting down. "Well it�s good, thank you Jack. It�s nice not to have to cook for a change." She glared at George who was fussing with Jake. "Mom can I go play now?" "Sure, take Josh with you and play nice." The twins ran out of the dining room and Nora stared after them with a dreamy smile on her face. Jack took hold of her hand under the table and squeezed it. "Oh Charlotte don�t smoke in here." Peter said taking the cigarette from her and putting it out. "Why the hell not?" She complained. "Because the rest of us don�t want to share your smoke." Emily said getting up and collecting the dishes. "Hey what�s your problem with me anyway?" Charlotte snapped. Louisa stood up to help Emily. "Alright calm down, its Christmas Eve and it�s a clear night out, so let�s go and sit on the porch and have some wine and Charlotte you can smoke out there." "And I will clear up." George smiled getting up and squeezing his wife�s arm. "You go outside and relax. And maybe Peter and Jack will be kind enough to help and perhaps share a little brandy." "Of course my good man." Peter said taking the dishes from Emily. * * * * * Nora rested her head against Louisa�s arm as they gently swung on the porch. "It�s a clear night sweetie, you can see the stars." "Hmm." She closed her eyes; it felt good to be home and even better to have Jack there with her. "So, you and Jack seem to be getting along exceptionally well." Louisa said. "Yeah, but the question is will a ring be part of the Christmas gifts." Charlotte replied from where she sat in the corner smoking. Louisa glared at her. "What? Its not as if they�re exclusive yet is it." Nora sat up. "We are actually and if you weren�t guzzling so much wine you might notice that. Can�t you just try for once not to be a bitch." "And can�t you just try for once not to be so damn judgmental. Just because you made DA doesn�t mean you have the right to reside over the rest of our lives." She got up. "I�m going to bed." She stormed off slamming the door as she went inside. "Damn, I didn�t mean to do that." Nora said. "Nevermind, she deserved it." "Am I really judgmental?" "No, ignore her, I�ve told you she�s just jealous because you have somebody who cares and she just sleeps around." The door opened and Emily came out. "Look what I found. Wonderful chocolate cake." She handed them both a plate with a generous slice on it. "What time is it?" Nora asked refilling their glasses. A hand slid down over her shoulder. "11.30." Jack said kissing her cheek. "Almost Christmas." He sat down next to her digging a spoon into her cake. "Where�s Charlotte?" Peter asked coming out. "She went to bed." "Did you fight?" "A disagreement shall we say." Louisa smiled. "Better go after her then." He got up and kissed both Louisa and Nora. "Goodnight dear sisters, I�ll see you in the morning." "Night Peter." Louisa got up. "I think I might follow you. George, are you coming?" "Yes dear." He jumped up. "I�ll check on the boys first. Night guys." Emily sat on the steps looking up at the sky. "Remember when I was little and you used to tell me all about the stars?" "Of course I do, best Christmas memories." Nora smiled as Jack folded his fingers with hers. Emily looked back at them and got up. "Think I�m gonna go for walk. I�ll see you both in the morning for the big present opening." She bent and kissed her aunt. "Ok, be careful dear it�s late." They watched her walk round the side of the house towards the back garden and Jack gently tilted Nora�s chin up so he could kiss her. It was slow and gentle and she couldn�t help feeling that right now there was nowhere on Earth she�d rather be. "That was nice." She smiled. "Only nice?" "Very nice." She rested her head on his shoulder. "So how did you enjoy today?" "It�s been pretty good. Charlotte�s strange though." "She was drunk." "I noticed. Do you always argue?" "Family tradition." "Well what else so I have to look forward to?" "Hmm, the annual visit to Church tomorrow, over indulgence, collapsing on the sofa after eating too much." "Sounds great fun, I can�t wait. Do we get to play silly games too?" She laughed. "Yes, and if you�re lucky you may even get to win." "Thank you." "For what?" "Introducing me to all this�family stuff. Even when Kate was young I don�t remember enjoying it this much, too busy concentrating on the career." "Are you missing Lita?" "More than I thought I would. But still I�m happy and strangely content." She lifted her head up again. "I�m glad. A few weeks ago I didn�t think we even be here together." "Well we are, and I�m going to make sure we�re never apart again." He kissed her again. "I love you." "I love you too. Merry Christmas." * * * * * Part 23 Stories Part 25 |