Kari Vickry.

[karivickry]

Baby Makes Three || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

It was brutal. Everett hadn’t believed it would be this bad. He doubted Kari had thought it would be this bad either. Now the day had finally arrived and the reality slap hit hard. It really was as brutal as all the books and classes had told them it would be. It was long. It was torture. Everett didn’t know how much longer his incredibly strong and fearless wife would last. He didn’t know how long he would last watching her go through it. Her pleading only brought on the agony Everett felt inside. “Yes, you can,” he told her. “You can do this. It’s just a little over.” He did his best to give her comfort and support. But, he agreed with her completely. He just wanted it over. He wanted the happy result at the end without all this pain.

When the doctor finally told them it was time, Everett released a breath of relief. “You’re almost done,” he whispered to his wife, kissing her temple. “Just hold out a little longer.” He glanced a worried, apprehensive look at the doctor hoping just that. “It will all be worth it,” he added just as the worst was about to begin. He gave her his hand, giving it back after rubbing at the bruises already turning black and blue. He knew she hadn’t intended it. She may not have taken it now, but it was all he could offer her. “Baby,” he said, giving her a smile as the excitement started to grow. “It’s time. You can do this. Push.”

[karivickry]

Kari's memory of her daughter's birth was almost too blurry to remember. There was pain. There was screaming and shouting. There was a lot of bruises on Everett's hands. But all of it was worth it now that Kari was holding Isabella Barlow in her arms. "She's beautiful," Kari murmured, smiling down at her bundle of joy. This little girl was the miracle child that so many people told Kari she would never have. Remember the days when she would cry about the possibility of being infertile? Remember when Everett comforted her and told her that they would figure it out when the time came down to it? Well, they figured it out, and they did it the way it was supposed to happen.

"I'm your mommy," Kari croaked, her voice hoarse from the screaming and groaning she had been doing for the past several hours. She was sure she looked like a sweaty, disgusting mess but she didn't even care at this point. The end result of all of that was so worth the pain and stress and probably Everett's bruised hand. With happy tears in her eyes, Kari glanced up at her husband, silently telling him to come join her on the bed to hold their daughter for the first time. "And this is your daddy," Kari said softly, smiling widely at Everett.

[karivickry]

Baby Makes Three || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

Everett knew this most recent contraction would not be the end of this. But, he couldn’t help but hope and pray that it would. As much as he tried to support his wife, he felt helpless as pain after pain shot through her. His hand was throbbing. It was most definitely bruised. He wouldn’t admit any pain though. He knew it was a shadow of the pain that Kari was feeling right now. “It’s fine,” he hushed to her again. “You’re doing great,” he told her, stroking the sweaty hair form her face and bringing the attention back to his wife.

“It’s almost over,” Everett added, hoping just this. At the end of it, the pain would be worth it. It would be forgotten. In it’s place they would get something that outweighed this moment by tenfold. They would get that little girl that Kari had wanted for so many years. But that moment didn’t feel like it was coming any time soon. This night felt like it would go on forever. “Are you sure you didn’t want anything?” Everett asked her. Their doctor had offered it when they came in. Kari was Kari. Kari was Kari who was the strongest, most fearless person he knew. They had read about possible affects of painkillers. But watching her like this was terrible.

[karivickry]

Kari huffed and puffed, twisting and turning her body around on the bed to try and get comfortable. It was no use at this point; she wouldn't be comfortable until this baby was out of her body. "I'm fine," she mumbled through gritted teeth, digging her nails into Everett's palm. She felt so bad. She really did. And she would probably apologize for it later on, but right now she couldn't think about anything else besides the pain coursing through her body and the baby that really needed to make an appearance sooner rather than later...

It had been 5 and a half hours since Kari first entered the delivery room. 5 and a half long, painful hours that made her want to pass out. "Ev," she breathed, reaching up to wipe what felt like a bucket of sweat from her forehead, "I can't. I can't do it anymore." She closed her eyes, breathing heavily as she let her head rest on the pillow behind her. The nurses went to grab the doctor, wanting to see how far Kari was dilated in order to determine if she was ready to push. God, she hoped she was. "I need to get her out of me. I can't do this anymore," Kari said softly, clenching her eyes shut to try and stop herself from crying.

It was stressful. Too stressful. All she wanted to do was bring her daughter into the world so she didn't have to think about the pain anymore. She probably looked like she hadn't showered in five years, and she was sure that Everett's hand was close to being broken. "Kari," her doctor said, giving her an encouraging smile. "I think we're ready for you to start pushing."

[karivickry]

Baby Makes Three || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

Everett savored that kiss for only a moment. While he would have wished it to be longer, they had the more urgent matter to attend to. Isabella Barlow. She was well on her way. “I love you,” Everett echoed back before jumping around to his side of the car. He gave a quick glance over at Kari before backing out onto the street. Typically Everett’s eyes were glued to the road. That one fateful night all those years ago had changed forever how he drove. However, Everett attention was only half on his driving tonight. And when Kari suddenly gasped in pain, his eyes snapped to his wife. While he knew what was happening, that first contraction brought the worry to the forefront of his mind.

“Babe?” he questioned, a hand reaching over to rest on hers. He was asking how she was. Asking for reassurance that things were okay (even if more than a little painful). Her answer didn’t comfort him much despite her attempt to pass over this first contraction. The few seconds of distraction had his eyes away from the road and his one hand just loosely holding onto the wheel, drifting them slightly to the left. He didn’t have time to respond to her words, instead being alerted to his distracted driving by a blaring honk.

“Shit!” Everett cursed, his attention shifting quickly back to where it should be. “Shit…” he muttered again, feeling like an idiot for having done what he had sworn never to do on the road again, lose focus. “I’m sorry,” he apologized to Kari, only meeting her eyes for a second. They were on the way to the hospital now. They didn’t need any other reason to go there too. He internally cursed himself again for putting them at that risk. Thankfully, they didn’t have much longer to go. Everett’s grip stayed on the wheel the rest of the time. He was grateful when he was finally able to pull into the hospital parking lot and was quick to get to Kari’s side once more and help her out. Everett sighed out another ‘sorry’ and ‘how are you?’ as he slipped his arm around her lower back and guided her inside.

[karivickry]

Kari felt bad for making Everett take his eyes off the road. She knew that he liked to be in complete control when he was behind the wheel. He didn't want to repeat that night. So, she tried to remain calm, cool and collected as he went just a little bit faster to get them to the hospital. Once they were there, Kari was grateful to have someone who worried so much as Everett did to be there for her. She wrapped her arm around his neck as he slipped his own behind her back, guiding her through the doors. "I'll be fine," Kari mumbled with a smile, hoping that it would calm both her nerves and her husband's.

Thankfully, the phone call beforehand worked, and there was a nurse ready and waiting with a wheelchair. "What a way to wake up, huh?" the nurse asked with a smirk, taking Kari's hand to help her get into the wheelchair. With nervous eyes, Kari looked up at Everett. "No turning back now," she said softly, knowing that they were in their final moments of being just husband and wife. Soon enough they would be parents. Mommy and Daddy. "Let's get you to your room and get you all set up," the nurse said, nodding for Everett to follow as she wheeled Kari around the corner to the delivery room section of the hospital.

A while later, Kari was in a typical hospital gown, breathing heavily as another contraction overcame her. "Sorry," she muttered, looking up at Everett with apologetic eyes for how hard she was squeezing his hand. A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead, and she closed her eyes as it trickled down her nose, too. This sucked. All this pain and discomfort. Was it necessary? Couldn't they give her something for this? But Kari knew it would be oh so very worth it in the end when her daughter was in her arms.

[karivickry]

Baby Makes Three || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

Kari’s words of her condition relaxed Everett. She was okay. Right now. He knew it probably wouldn’t be like that for long. Kari and him had discussed this enough. They had done the parenting classes and read through the books. (Kari had done more of the reading; Everett had glanced and commented.) The bag they had ready had been prepared well in advance after hearing all the other stories of early arrivals and unready parents. The bag was there to ensure their story wouldn’t be anything like those. Everett was grateful for Kari’s persistence that they do it. It gave the opportunity to move sooner and think less. “We’ll get it and be on the way,” he told her, putting an arm around her lower back and helping her back into the bedroom.

Everett got out a change of clothes for himself and her. After changing, Everett slung his bag over this shoulder and grabbed his cellphone charging on the dresser. “I’ll be right back,” Everett said as he did a double take at Kari to see if she needed him now. He took the steps two at a time as he headed down as he dialed the hospital. They had plenty of people to call, but the hospital would be first. Cody’s eyes snapped open when he came down and Everett let him out as he loaded the car with the bag and the car seat they soon would need. That deep realization was setting in all around him. It was finally time. Coming in again, Everett put some extra food in Cody’s dish. He wasn’t sure how long it would take. He hoped for the best. Back upstairs Everett went to Kari’s side once more. “We’re ready,” he said. It wasn’t a question. They were ready for this. As he guided her down the stairs and through the front door, Everett gave Kari a little kiss on the top of her head, hugging her just a little closer as they walked forward. “When we come back, we’ll be bringing Isabella home too.”

[karivickry]

Kari graciously let Everett guide her downstairs and to the front door. She pouted at Cody, wishing that she could take him with them to the hospital. "You're gonna have a new friend to play with when we come back," she murmured to the dog, lightly brushing her fingers against the top of his head. They left the house, and Kari's heart began racing. This was it. When she returned home, she would be a mother. A parent. Mom. Suddenly, it all felt like it was happening so fast. Where did the time go? The kiss on her cheek brought her back to reality, and Kari smiled at the sound of her future daughter's name. "I can't wait," Kari gushed softly, stopping in her tracks. She placed both hands on Everett's cheeks, bringing his mouth to hers in a loving kiss. "I love you," she said softly before wiggling into the passenger seat of the car.

As they began their drive to the hospital, Kari's hands flung to her stomach, clutching it tightly as a contraction ripped through her. "Fuck," she hissed, closing her eyes to try and drown out everything. She knew Everett was going to be concerned, but she just needed him to focus and get her to the hospital. No time for concern right now. "I think she said to tell you to drive a little faster," Kari teased, breathing heavily as she threw a glance in Everett's direction.

[karivickry]

Baby Makes Three || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

Everett had always been a pretty heavy sleeper. As a little boy, his mom used to find him in all sorts of old places and positions fast asleep. She used to say that he could sleep through an earthquake. As an adult, he wasn’t as bad as that, but once asleep it took more to wake him than a simple shake. Recently, however, Everett had been almost as anxious as Kari for Isabella’s birth. Because of that, his body was waking each time Kari slid from bed. It allowed him a moment to check on her. That was what had happened when Kari lifted herself from bed and headed to the bathroom like she had been doing each night. This time, though, just moments before he drifted back to sleep, he heard Kari’s gasp. A second later he heard the call.

Everett’s eyes snapped open and he sat up. “Kar?” he called, shoving the blankets off of him and getting out of the bed. Not spotting her, he rounded the corner into the bathroom where he expected her to be. Sure enough, Everett spotted his wife standing in the bathroom with the wet stain running down her legs and ending in a puddle beneath her feet. Everett’s eyes widened in a terrified. “Holy shit!” He exclaimed, repeating the same words he hadn’t known she had just said. “She’s coming? Now?” He asked. He assumed yes. And that brought a grin across his face. “She’s coming,” he answered for himself and kissed Kari fully on the lips before thinking anything else. After a second, he pulled back with a sheepish look on his face. “Sorry.” His excitement had gotten the best of him, but now the look he gave his wife was one of concern. “How are you feeling? Are you okay?” He stood back to check her over as he reached for a towel to help clean her up.

[karivickry]

Kari couldn't help but laugh at Everett's immediate reaction. Well, at least she knew that he was just as excited as she was! "She's coming," Kari confirmed with a smile that matched her husband's. His look of concern made her realize what was actually going on. Her baby was definitely coming, and it could happen any time in the next 24 hours. At least, she hoped it would only be that time frame. Kari had heard stories about people in labor for days, and she really wasn't looking to add her name to that list. She was thankful that Everett had the towel in hand and could assist her in the clean-up; there was no way she was going to be able to bend over to clean herself up. She would probably fall forward!

"I'm okay right now," Kari said with a nod, assuring both Everett and herself. But, she knew they were going to need to get to the hospital sooner rather than later. Contractions could start any minute, and Kari was not going to want to be in transit for too long with those painful bursts. "The bag's in the corner. We should go. And you should call on the way to let them know we're coming," Kari ordered in the most polite manner she could muster at the moment. As excited as she was for her daughter to arrive, Kari was absolutely terrified of the whole giving birth thing. She hoped Everett's hands were sturdy, because she planned on squeezing the shit out of them.

[karivickry]

Baby Makes Three || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

Little would anyone have imagined Everett Barlow in the position he was in now. His head resting atop his wife’s pregnant belly would have been a farfetched thought of anyone who had known him a few years back. Yet, here he was now, perfectly content doing just that. Everett and Kari Barlow’s nighttime routine began with that one question: Maybe we’ll meet her tomorrow. Everett’s response was the same one he had been giving the last few nights. “Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight,” he replied, his own anticipation joining with hers. While this little baby girl had a due date, they knew she could be coming any day. It was a waiting game that neither of them was all that patient to play.

For a moment, Everett let himself imagine what it would be like. He stoked the swell of Kari’s belly as he imagined finally being able to hold this little being in his arms. Their daughter. “I can’t wait to meet you,” he whispered softly to Kari’s stomach before placing a feather light kiss to the bump. It wasn’t a strange thing for him to do. He hoped she heard it. He hoped she’d know just how much he already loved her. And he hoped, just as Kari did, that she would love him back. Of course, he had no doubt that their little girl would love Kari. He told her just that. “You’re going to be the perfect mom,” he promised her, rolling away from her stomach so he could prop himself next to his wife instead. “And she’s going to love you so much.” His thumb came up to brush across her check before he leaned in to place a soft kiss upon her lips.

[karivickry]

Kari smiled against her husband's lips, pecking them once more before letting her head fall against his shoulder. "Maybe tonight," Kari repeated with a wide smile, glancing up at Everett. She wanted this baby to finally arrive. Waiting nine months to meet someone, especially your daughter, was nine months too many. Every night before she went to bed, Kari silently prayed that it would be the last night she had to go to sleep with a baby inside of her. It wasn't because being pregnant was too much; she just wanted to start her journey into motherhood.

Her eyes flickered to the corner of the room where a large duffel bag was packed with everything Kari would need for when she actually did go into labor. They knew they had to be prepared because it could happen any day or night. "She's going to love you, too," Kari replied, placing her hand on her large stomach. "And I love you," she added softly, leaning up to kiss Everett again. She nodded towards the light, silently asking Everett to turn it off so they could get some sleep. Being pregnant really did get to her, and being tired was the norm for her.

At about 2 AM, Kari groaned as she woke up and wiggled from Everett's grasp. She usually could sleep through the night, but that baby always woke her up at the worst times to go to the bathroom. On her way back to bed, Kari could tell something wasn't right. She felt a trickling down her legs, and she knew that it could only mean one thing. "Holy shit," she breathed, staring down at her stomach. "Ev," she said loud and slow, not wanting to move from the spot she was standing in. "I think she's coming today," Kari said, the finality in her voice proving that her water was definitely broken.

[karivickry]

Baby Makes Three || Karrett

Kari couldn't see her feet anymore. It was blocked by her enormous belly that was currently carrying Kari and Everett's first child. A girl. She was far too impatient to wait until the birth to know the gender; it gave her more time to come up with a name. Isabella. It was a name she had loved since she was little, and she was thrilled that Everett loved the name, too. Thankfully, the pregnancy lasted the entire 9 months without complications. Sure, there was the lovely combination of morning sickness and strange cravings, but Kari loved being pregnant more than anything. She just couldn't wait to meet her daughter. Even the word made her heart flutter with excitement. Years ago, Kari never thought she would be able to get pregnant. Hell, she didn't even think she would ever get married. But now, she was married to the most wonderful man on the planet, and they were about to become parents. "Maybe we'll meet her tomorrow," Kari said with a grin, her eyes fixed on her husband who was resting his head on her large stomach. She said it every night, hoping that the next day would be the big day for them. That day still hadn't come, but Kari could feel that it was getting close. Isabella had to come soon, or else Kari thought her skin might stretch off her body. She could hardly get out of bed without Everett's help, and they both knew how much she hated depending on other people. Kari wanted to meet her baby more than anything. She wanted to start her journey into motherhood, and she wanted to share precious moments between her husband and child. "Do you think she's gonna like me?" Kari asked, reaching her hand down to run her fingers through Everett's hair. This was how every night had been for the past few weeks. They just relaxed and talked about what might happen on the big day that they had been waiting 9 months for.

[everett-barlow-blog]

Simple and Sweet || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

Everett’s eyebrows lifted up as Kari lifted herself off him and bid him to wait. Not at all ignorant to what it implied, Everett’s face already showed the anticipation of whatever Kari had in store for him. After all, it was Valentine’s Day and Kari had just been shopping. Though he hadn’t had a peek at the bags and therefore didn’t catch sight of that fateful pink one, he was pretty sure there was something special for this occasion. With that thought in mind, he was thrilled to see what she had picked up. As commanded, Everett gave her a few minutes before taking the same path as she had and found himself entering their bedroom to a fantastic sight ahead of him.

Everett’s eyes scanned down his Fiancé’s body with a very appreciative look. They may have said no gifts… but which of them would ever listen to that? Besides, it was a gift to both of them. “No argument here,” he made sure to say, though his eyes sucked in the sight of the lustful pink over her tan flesh rather than looking up. She knew how to play him well. “I never mind a present to unwrap,” he cockily added as his eyes finally found hers and he crossed the distance to let his hands explore the new attire too.

[karivickry]

Kari grinned as Everett's hands made contact with the lace material she currently had on. "There was a cute white set, but I thought that would be more appropriate for a different occasion," she murmured, letting her eyes follow the movement of his hands on her body. She didn't want Everett to see her in anything that looked like wedding night underwear until it was actually their wedding night. Avoiding that color would be easy. Although, the temptation was there. The hot water filled the tub behind her, and she was desperate to get Everett out of his clothes and into the bath. Then again, she knew he was just as desperate to do the same to her.

"Since it's Valentine's Day, I guess I should tell you that I love you," Kari hummed, her lips lightly touching his ear. Her hands ran beneath his shirt, pushing against the material as her hands slid along his stomach. Teasingly, Kari nibbled at his earlobe before tugging at it with her teeth. "I love you," she whispered, pressing a light kiss to his jawline. The shirt needed to come off, so she quickly tugged at it until Everett helped rid the item from his body. With hungry eyes, Kari's lips found their place on Everett's neck, kissing and playfully biting at the skin she loved so much.

[everett-barlow-blog]

Simple and Sweet || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

“This summer,” Everett gave his nod of approval. The decision was made. This summer, just in a few months, they would be married. While Kari exuberantly babbled about all the things that they would do, Everett’s smile stretched wide, watching her with a loving amusement. Almost always the more restrained one, Everett shared his happiness with chuckle and an appeasing nod. It was still hard to imagine the moment when suddenly they would become husband and wife, but it was a moment he was looking forward to. It was the hope he had needed when the troubles all began.

[karivickry]

“Husband and wife showers?” Everett repeated, his voice rising in purposeful intonation. His interest playfully peeked. “You didn’t mention these earlier,” he complained to her, as if she had been withholding very important information. “I would have proposed a whole lot sooner.” He winked at her, using his hands on her back to pull her in closer. “As is, we should practice those. You know, make sure we’re ready for this whole husband and wife thing.” For extra measure, his fingers snuck under the hem of her shirt from where they had lingered on her lower back to tickle the soft skin and his lips pressed down lightly along the dip in her neck.

Kari blushed when Everett's lips touched her neck. It had been a while since they had a moment like this, and Kari wasn't going to let the moment pass. After all, it was Valentine's Day. And although they had decided not to do anything too crazy this year, Kari wanted to make it special and keep it intimate. She went shopping that morning for a reason. "How about you meet me upstairs in five minutes?" Kari murmured, placing her hand on Everett's arm to silently ask him to let her get off the couch. With a teasing smile, she disappeared upstairs to quickly slip into the new underwear set that she purchased earlier in the day. Everett was going to just take it off, but she had to do a little modeling for him first.

She turned on the tub faucet, letting the water run hot and fill up while she changed. Knowing that she was on a time restraint, Kari quickly shed her clothes and current bra and underwear. She then put on the sexy pink push-up bra and cheeky bottoms, hearing Everett coming up the stairs. Her hands rested on the bathroom doorway, and her body leaned forward to see if Everett was in sight. He was. Her heart raced in anticipation and excitement. "I know we said no gifts, but I couldn't help myself," she said with a grin, letting her eyes graze his body.

[everett-barlow-blog]

Simple and Sweet || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

When Kari brought her mom into the conversation, Everett knew a wedding this summer was beginning to be more than just a possibility. Financially, Kari and Everett were both twenty-something young adults. They weren’t rolling in any money. They did well getting by with enough cushion a, but just that wouldn’t be enough to fund a whole wedding, reception, and honeymoon. Kari’s mom offered a chance to have those things despite. While the Barlows were under enough stress with the diner, Kari’s mom had the means (and desire) to help them out. “She’d love that,” Everett agreed. From the few times they had met, he knew Kari’s mom loved her completely. She wanted the very best for her and she seemed to approve of him as that best.

“We could do this,” Everett agreed. His smile stretched as she leaned in to kiss him. He readily accepted the kiss and kissed her back. “That’s some five-six months. We’ll have to figure out a lot of stuff. But people have gotten married in less than that.” It would be close enough to a two-year mark for them. Two years that Everett had fallen completely in love with Kari. They really were going to be married… and, more than likely, soon. It was a realization that Everett was perfectly happy to accept. “Let’s see if we can do it.”

[karivickry]

Kari smiled happily, letting the idea of a summer wedding sink in. Five months. They could do this, right? When Kari set her mind to something, she did not stop until she had exactly what she wanted. Hell, she wanted Everett and made sure that she got him. And now she had him forever. A wedding, reception, and honeymoon were going to be tough things to plan (and fund), but she had faith that they could do it. "I know we can do it," she agreed with a nod. A few months until they were official. Until their family officially began. He was already her family now, but Kari couldn't wait to call Everett her husband. This is what she always wanted, and now she had it with the right person.

"Being married is gonna be so fun," Kari gushed, lovingly gazing at her fiance. "You can come home and I'll have dinner ready for my husband. I'll just have to learn how to cook. And then we can take Cody on a husband and wife walk on the weekends. And then we can take husband and wife showers," she added with a smirk, listing all of the things they already do together but knowing that it would be even better when they were married.

[everett-barlow-blog]

Simple and Sweet || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

So completely out of character, Everett was not one to pick up anything remotely feminine. Kari had him caught. “It was closer than the remote,” Everett tried to justify, a pathetic excuse whether it was true or not. He lamented with a smile on his face, hardly able to keep a defensive state with the woman he loved laughing so. “Alright, I was curious,” he gave in, shrugging a little. How could he not have been a little curious? Though hardly a man’s plan, it would be his wedding too. It would be their moment to share. And, while he hadn’t planned on being caught looking, it didn’t hurt Everett to flip through and get some idea of what other couples did.

It was this magazine that was leading him to the thoughts that he wanted something far from flashy and ornate that these were. He wanted simple, personal, and something perfect for them. And though she had these magazines, he couldn’t imagine Kari wanting the ballroom multi-million dollar wedding either. Coming down from the tease, Kari was more serious. This summer. “We could do it,” Everett nodded as the pieces began to be put together piece by piece. “We won’t have a ton of money, but the diner should be back up by then. If all goes well, I’ll be done with school…” It almost made since. “Unless we need more time,” he added, not sure what time frames should be like for planning a wedding. He was flying blind with this.

And then the grin swept across Kari’s face again. Everett playfully huffed. He rebuffed with, “Oh yeah, that time you wanted a booty call and I was ever the gentleman and denied?” He sent a cocky smirk her way, remembering that day. What a crazy start to all of this. He leaned back on the couch, his hands rolling down Kari’s sides to rest around her lower back. “Though I think it was this same couch we ended up on after all that. Guess we both got what we wanted that night.”

[karivickry]

"I think we could do it," Kari agreed. She knew as well as Everett did that their financial situation wasn't the best, but she wanted to get married to him more than anything in the world. If it meant that it would be done with whatever funds they could manage, then so be it. Hey, a beach wedding would be cheaper to begin with. And it would be so... Kari and Everett. Much of their relationship had to do with the beach, and it would be the perfect place for them to officially tie the knot. "My mom can help us with the planning. Maybe she'll get us a wedding planner. I'll have to ask her about it. She's like over the moon excited about the wedding, so she'll do what she has to do," she chuckled, knowing that her mother would do whatever it took to make sure her daughter had what she wanted.

Everett's comment made her laugh. "Hey, it wasn't a booty call!" she shouted, playfully slapping Everett's arm. "I genuinely wanted to see you again. I just didn't know how else to ask," she said with a smile. The memory of that night and the day after made her cheeks flush. She knew back then that Everett was going to be someone she cared about. There was something in the way that she fit with him that made her feel it in her bones. "I did get what I wanted. You," Kari said softly, leaning over to place her lips on Everett's again.

[everett-barlow-blog]

Simple and Sweet || Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

While Everett had been purposefully vague in his question, he waited expectantly for his fiancé to pop into the living room to see what he was talking about. Her slightly confused question brought that playful smile to his face and he looked over the couch as she came in. “Hey,” he greeted, as she slid onto his lap. The disturbed Cody was more excited about seeing Kari than having been forced from his spot. Everett chuckled as the dog’s stubby tail wiggled ferociously, but eventually pushed him back gently so he could wrap his arm around Kari and return the soft peck.

“For the wedding,” Everett confirmed, putting aside the magazine giving away what he had been looking at. When she didn’t say yes or no, Everett took her next question as a partial agreement. Summer. Beach. It was so much a part of who they already were. Why marry in a church when neither of them was religious? It might appease his mother, maybe, but that wasn’t a big enough reason for Everett. Kari’s next question solicited a simple shrug from Everett. He supposed he hadn’t thought exactly about when in relation to now. “I don’t know,” he said, giving away that he hadn’t necessarily thought about when exactly the wedding would be. He cracked a little smirk. “I don’t mind the handcuffs. This summer or next. My feelings for you won’t change.” They were already living together. His parents had just claimed her part of their family. The wedding would make things official.

[karivickry]

Kari let an amused smirk appear on her face when Everett nodded towards the wedding magazines he had been reading. She would be lying if she said she wasn't surprised to see Everett indulge in that kind of reading material. "I can't believe you've been reading these," Kari giggled, narrowing her eyes playfully at her future husband. She loved him for it, though. If Everett wanted to start getting serious about their wedding plans, Kari was all ears. Now that they were engaged, she didn't want to wait forever to make it official and begin to start a family with him. Of course, she needed things to be okay with the diner and with Everett's parents before any dates could be set, but thinking about it wasn't a bad idea.

"I wouldn't mind this summer," Kari admitted, wondering if Everett would agree to that. That was only in a few months, and it would take some effort to get everything in order before then. But, Kari could do it. They could do it together. She was sure of it. "But it's whatever you think is best. I'll whip out the handcuffs whenever you want," she said playfully, giving the term a double meaning. Her eyes moved from his face to the diamond ring on her finger, and a smile crept over her features. "The beach would be nice. Reminiscent of when I kicked your ass on the waves the day after my birthday," she added with a laugh.

[everett-barlow-blog]

Simple and Sweet || Karrett

Things with the diner were looking up. It had been a month and a half since that dreadful fire hit it with all of its might. Luckily, some of it withstood its wrath and the rest was being put back together one board at a time. With the worst behind them, Everett was taking a break this Saturday day. After a long missed surf (decked out in his wetsuit and all) and then a warm shower, Everett found himself collapsing on the couch. Cody jumped up beside him and rested his head in his lap. Everett created a gentle rhythm of pets as he reached out with his other hand toward the magazine that sat atop the coffee table.

Though Everett and Kari had been engaged for several months now, they hadn’t done much planning towards any wedding. The magazine he now opened happened to be the first of its kind. Whether Kari got it herself or someone had given it to her, Everett now flipped through the pages with curiosity. The elegancies floored him. The prices were astronomical. The amount of planning, energy, and money that went into these weddings were far beyond what he had ever imagined. Was that what Kari wanted? He wasn’t sure. But, Everett knew he didn’t want that. He didn’t want two hundred people there. He didn’t need a palace and feast. When he heard the front door open, he called out with no warning or clarification, “How about summer? On the beach?”

[karivickry]

Kari hadn't had the desire to go out and do anything for herself lately. She wanted to help Everett and the diner, and her mind was just not focused on anything else. So, when things were finally starting to get better and the diner was beginning to get back on track, Kari felt like she needed a much deserved morning to herself. She woke up early for a jog, showered successfully without waking up Everett, and then headed out to the mall to do some retail therapy. It had been a while since she bought anything sexy for Everett to play with, so she had to stop off at Victoria's Secret to grab a few things.

When she returned home, Everett's voice greeted her before his body did. Summer? The beach? Was he talking about their wedding? Since the engagement, Kari and Everett hadn't exactly discussed details or anything of the sort. Now, they could finally begin to talk about what she had desperately been wanting to talk about. "This summer?" Kari asked, wondering if Everett wanted to get married sooner rather than later. She set her bags down on the kitchen counter and made her way to the couch, sitting down on Everett's lap with an arm around his shoulders. "You sure you wanna handcuff yourself to me that quickly?" she asked teasingly, greeting him with a kiss.

[karivickry]

Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

The door opening and the stuttered conversations alerted Tony Barlow to the company Diana and him now had. With short steps, Everett’s father turned into the living room to join them. His lips turned up into a smile the instant he set eyes on his son and future daughter-in-law. “Hi there, stranger,” he greeted, the statement obviously directed to the young blond. He held his arms out for her and hugged her back, slow and gentle. “It’s been too long!” His jubilant voice sounded as if it had been any other day at the diner. The raw, shiny skin peeking out from his shirt on both his neck and hand, however, showed that time had changed some things.

Although neither Diana nor Tony were going to bring up the negative event that had impacted them so, Kari’s conversation made a quick turn to it. Everett stood beside her, but it was clearly all Kari’s decision. Though it probably wasn’t possible, he loved her ever more for it. Tony and Diana, on the opposite side, were momentarily speechless. Tony’s bright green eyes widened in surprise and Diana’s frowned in confusion. Neither had expected what Kari just offered them.

“Kari-“ Tony began, voice suddenly void of the energy he had had moments before. It was tired, pained, merely a sigh. It was a refusal about to happen, Everett could tell straight away. Hadn’t he sounded just the same when Kari first offered to him? “I-“ Tony tried to go on.

“Thank you,” Diana’s voice interrupted, voice bolder and overpowering whatever her husband was about to say. With a gentle hand on his good arm, she stilled him. Her eyes connected with his and she gave the faintest shake of her head. “The diner needs it- you need it,” she muttered to him. Turning back to Kari, she hardly knew how to express herself. “Thank you,” she repeated. Her voice was filled with gratitude, more than a small bit of disbelief still mixed in. “Tony might be proud, but I am not,” she said, though Everett would have sworn it to be the other way around. “Every little bit helps and we both thank you for it.”

And though Tony still didn’t seem sure about it, Diana was already stepping forward. She took Kari’s hand in hers and squeezed. “We can’t thank you enough, but we will.” Diana knew this wasn’t meant to be a loan, but there were many other ways they would pay it back and forward in the future. “You’re too sweet. Too kind.” Diana smiled at her, up at Everett, and then back again. “I don’t know- and probably don’t want to know- how you two managed to get together. But I’m very happy you did. You’re a wonderful person, Kari. We’re all grateful to have you.”

[karivickry]

Kari froze when Tony's voice changed, signaling that he wasn't going to take her money. But when Diana stepped in, Kari's spirits were lifted once again. The woman that Kari expected to deny her was actually welcoming the gift with open arms. Her warm words of thanks were completely unnecessary; Kari just believed she was doing what was right. Her cheeks flushed just the tiniest bit of red when Diana mentioned not wanting to know how she and Everett got together; that was a story that neither Diana nor Tony had to ever hear.

"You don't need to thank me," Kari replied softly, squeezing Diana's hand affectionately. "I went into this knowing what I was playing for. You guys are my family, too, and I want to help you as much as I can," she added, speaking the truth about her intentions. "I'm grateful to have both of you in my life, too. I don't see my parents often, and I've kind of adopted you two as parents already. So consider this a present for the diner and for being so wonderful to me."

[karivickry]

Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

There were times that Everett didn’t want to go home. There were times he worried about what his parents (his mother, in particular) would say. The last year and a half had changed that. The last month had reversed it entirely. Everett had been the spit-image of a dutiful son. He had shown his loyalty and hard work. He had given all he could. Now, Kari was here to do all she could too. Hands together, they walked up the steps of his childhood home. He was more than grateful the fire hadn’t reached it too. At the top of the stairs they stopped. In the past, Everett would have been comfortable just walking in. Now, he knocked.

[karivickry]

Immediately, the familiar sound of yipping came at the door. Footsteps followed shortly. When the door pulled in, Diana Barlow’s face appeared in its wake. “Hello!” She greeted with a wide smile on her face. Though Everett still couldn’t tell a fake one apart from a real one, he smiled back. They were putting the past behind them. They were moving on. He accepted the hug she gave him now and hugged her back before his mom stepped over to his fiancé. “Hello, Kari,” she greeted her more personally, giving her a gentle hug too. “Come in,” she invited as she stepped aside.

“It’s good to see you Kari,” Diana said softly, closing the door and shooing the jumpy little dog off of them. “I’m sorry we didn’t have you over for Christmas or… any other time… It’s been… we’ve had a hard time recently.” Diana’s refined personality faltered. She couldn’t get out the statement in the proper way she wanted. It was defeating. She was defeated. Her stuttering gave away too much. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. Everett wasn’t sure if she was apologizing for Christmas or her uncharacteristic manner now. Either way, he didn’t blame anything on her. But, he didn’t get a word in before her smile was back in place. “Anyway- it’s good to see you now. And I know Tony is excited to see you too.”

Kari's heart was racing as she let Diana pull her into an embrace. She hugged Everett's mother back, praying that she couldn't sense how nervous her future daughter-in-law was. Her apologies for Christmas and for any other random occasion were unnecessary; Kari understood that the family was going through a hard time, and they probably didn't want any company that they didn't truly need to have. "Don't apologize. It's completely understandable," Kari replied warmly, hoping that Diana would calm down a bit. Maybe it was good that his mother was a little on edge as well; the two of them were in the same emotional boat.

"I'm sorry I look so... messy," Kari said with a nervous laugh. "We actually just got back from a surf competition. It's... kind of the reason why we came over," she added, hearing her voice shake at the end of her sentence. When Tony appeared in the living room, Kari's nerves eased up a bit. She really did love him like he was her own father. "Tony," Kari said sweetly, a smile on her face as she greeted her almost father-in-law with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I um... I wanted to come over because...," she began, wishing that she didn't stumble over her words. "I entered a competition, praying that I would win. I knew the cash prize was worth working my butt off for, but I ended up coming in third. So... I did win some money. A few thousand. It's not much, but it's something, you know? And since it's my money, I'm doing what I want with it," Kari explained. "And I want you two to have it. I want you to use it, no matter how small of an amount it is, towards the diner or whatever you need it for, really. I just know that I went into this hoping to come out of it with something to give you, and since this is all I have, I hope it'll at least do something."

[karivickry]

Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

Turning the jeep into reverse, Everett backed out of his spot before turning into drive and heading onto the road. Just out of Hava Hills, it wouldn’t take long to get back into town. Once there, getting anywhere would be quick. Hava Hills was a village compared to it’s neighboring cities and towns. Kari’s small attempt at conversation had Everett turning slightly to his right. He gave a single nod of agreement. “No since Thanksgiving,” he said. It was the same as saying since the fire. Their dinner that night before had given no forecast of what was to come for them. It was the very next day Everett had gotten that call. “I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you,” he added, though it was probably a given without saying. It had been a long time since they’d seen each other. Time that hadn’t been filled with pleasant things. Maybe this visit and the check would begin to bring things back to normal.

Everett’s blinker flashed as he rounded the corner. Like always, Everett took the longer route. He still avoided that street like the plague. He’d never said it. He’d never heard her comment on it. The end results would remain the same regardless of the path he took. Pulling into the driveway, Everett wasn’t concerned about blocking anyone in. No one would be leaving if the two of them were there. While Everett’s mood had been lifted significantly this day, Everett cast a worried glance at the windows of his house and back to Kari. Though Kari had seen the devastation through her fiancé, she hadn’t seen Tony or Diana, those who had impacted the most. “They’ll be happy to see you,” he repeated quietly, as if reassuring him self that this happiness would cover the grief that had been cast over them.

[karivickry]

Kari nodded her head, trying to take in Everett's promise that his parents would, in fact, be happy to see her. She knew that the devastation of the fire had them down; it had people unrelated to the Barlow's down, too. Kari wanted to help. She wanted to turn things around for the family that she loved so much. "I feel bad that I look like a mess," she commented with a shrug, beginning to get nervous as they drove closer and closer to Everett's family home. Kari liked to look presentable, especially in front of Everett's parents. She didn't want them to think their son was with a girl who didn't know how to take care of herself. Then again, she had a good excuse. It was the whole reason they were even showing up to Tony and Diana's in the first place. She surfed in a competition, won some money, and now was here to deliver it to the people who needed it more than she needed it. Once they were in the driveway, Kari let out a breath and unbuckled her seatbelt, hopping out of the car to meet Everett at the other side. Grabbing his hand, Kari tugged him towards the front door, wanting to keep moving forward instead of letting her nerves get the best of her. She wanted to ask Everett what he thought his parents would say to her, but she didn't exactly want to know beforehand. Whatever happens, happens, right? She let Everett ring the doorbell, and she wondered if they were excited to have some company for a while. It had been a few weeks since Kari saw Everett's parents; he saw them far more than she had the chance to.

[karivickry]

Karrett

[everett-barlow-blog]

Everett hadn’t known if they would go not to his parents’ place, but Kari seemed okay to go ahead and do it. The sooner the diner could be fixed, the better it would be for everyone. Kari knew that. Whatever money she could give them could help, he just wished it wouldn’t have come to this. She could have used the money for other things. They could of. But, at this moment in time, this was the most important thing for the Barlow family. And, soon enough, would Kari not be a Barlow too? Everett had nodded his head at Kari and let her walk past him and into the shower house.

Everett knew if she really wanted to, she could spend quite some time showering and primping herself… today, she kept things short and simple. Even so, by the time Kari made her way out of the hut, Everett had loaded her main board and back up one atop the jeep, gotten back to the waiting point, and was already off the phone with his dad- having wanted to make sure he was, in fact, at home and not at the diner where he was so oftentimes now. When he finally spotted her coming toward him, Everett sent her a smirk and a troublesome wink. “I like the bikini better,” he said, playful for the first time in weeks. He took her bag and slung it over his own shoulder. “We’re good to go,” he confirmed. “I already got the boards up and made sure my dad was home,” he added as he took her hand and started with her back to the car.

[karivickry]

Kari grinned at Everett's comment about her previous attire. It had been a while since he even dared to make a joke, and she was happy to see that he was beginning to get back on track. As long as he was in a good mood, Kari would be in a good mood with him. "Great," she replied softly, giving his hand a squeeze as they started off towards the car. So, Tony was home. Diana was probably home, too. Were they going to be offended by her offer? Here was a girl, at least half their age, presenting them money to try and get their business back on it's feet. Would that make them feel weird? Would they accept her gift? And if they didn't... how would she react? Kari knew that Everett would never let his parents get out of line with Kari, but she wondered if he would be able to stop them if they had negative comments to swing her way. Then again, Kari could never imagine Everett's father saying anything but positive things to her. She loved him like her own dad.

Once they were in the truck, Kari rested one hand on Everett's thigh, absentmindedly letting her thumb draw patterns over his shorts. If he asked if she was nervous, she wouldn't even be able to lie about it. Of course she was nervous, but she hoped everything would work out. After all, this was meant to be a good thing, right? She was going to be a Barlow, and from what she could see, the Barlow family liked to help people if they needed it. So, that's exactly what Kari was intending on doing. "Haven't seen your family in a while," Kari commented, trying to make conversation before she went crazy.