Adultery Cheating and Rivals by xleglover-COMPLETED

[Ramesh_Rocky]

"Ricky getting a Metal?" Mike asked, trying to keep the jealousy from his voice.

Jen shrugged like she didn't know, or care. But really she did know, it was in all the papers and TV. They weren't giving Ricky another Medal of Honor, it was against current rules. But they were nominating him for a 2nd MOH, itself a great honor, and they were making a notation on his existing MOH. Colonel Banks was being awarded a Medal of Honor posthumously.

"You should go," Mike told her.

"I don't want to," Jen said.

"You should go," Mike said again. His insides were churning but he forced a smile. "Ricky and Colonel Banks are heroes. So are Frank and his bodyguards. You were there. You should go."

"You should go too Mike," Jen urged him. "You saved the President's daughters."

"I was part of a team," Mike told her, shaking his head. "Besides, my situation's complicated, you know that. I doubt they'd let me anywhere near the White House."

The day of the ceremony arrived and Jen got ready. Anna was invited but she and Mike decided not to take her, as they wanted to distance their daughter from the violence and horror of that day.

Mike's insides were churning. He felt jealous and insecure. Yet, he said to her, "I understand if you want to spend time with Ricky after."

Jen looked at him, processing his words. Mike forced a grin and said "He's a hero, right?"

"There were a lot of heroes Mike," Jen said. She tenderly stroked his cheek. "I know you wish you were there. But then you might be dead. I don't want that. Anna doesn't want that."

Mike knew she was trying to be nice. Trying to look out for him. But her words made him feel worse. He wanted to be the hero. He wanted to be Jen and Anna's hero. He especially didn't want Ricky to be the hero. But he was. There was no denying it. Ricky was Jen and Anna's hero.

Jen looked for Jasmine at the ceremony but she wasn't there. Probably the pain of losing Deidre was still too raw. Frank wasn't there either. Jen was glad. She needed to say goodbye to Frank but this wasn't the time.

Jen talked to Lou for a while. "So what are you doing after Frank?" she asked.

"This and that," Lou said with a shrug. "I'm thinking about rejoining CIA. Leo still has contacts; he's helping me out. But really I'm enjoying not doing anything for a while. I met a girl. At a bar." He laughed at the thought. "But she's okay. She's great actually."

"That's really good Lou," Jen said, happy for him.

Jen and Lou watched the President give awards to Ricky and Colonel Banks (posthumously). He acknowledged the lifelong service of JJ, who recently died in a tragic accident (Jen looked down as the President talked about JJ, her teeth clench). He praised the bravery of the Secret Service, security officer, FBI and National Guard.

"Why isn't he mentioning Mike saving his daughters?" Jen said frowning.

"He can't," Lou told her in a low voice. "That's secret Jen. You can't talk about it either."

Later Ricky sidled up to Jen. "Hey," he whispered.

"Hey," Jen whispered back. "You look good," she said, giving him a quick up and down look. She grinned and said "I always did like you in a uniform."

"You wanna come to my place?" Ricky whispered.

"Don't you have to stay?" Jen asked.

Ricky shook his head. "I'm done here," he said.

Jen glanced nervously around the crowded room. She knew a lot of people here. "You go ahead," she whispered. "I'll meet you there."

************

There was a knock at the door. Mike opened it. It was Big.

"What do you want?" Mike asked, a frown on his face.

"Can I come in?" Big said with a friendly laugh. Mike hesitated, as if thinking about it. Then he moved to the side, letting Big into the loft apartment.

"They put me in charge of CATF," Big said, getting right to the point. "All is forgiven Mike. Stay here. You're still getting your money back. But stay here. Keep working with us."

"No," Mike said without hesitation.

"Why?" Big asked. "What's in the Canary Islands?"

This time Mike didn't answer. After a few moments Big said "I read your file. I read about your ... lifestyle. I think I understand. It's awkward for you with Ricky living so close, given his role in the Ballroom Battle, and his relationship with your wife. You haven't told Jen what you did, have you? You can do that Mike. We're keeping a lid on it but you can tell her. She's your wife. She should know what you did."

"No."

"Mike, the President will call Jen. He'll meet with you and her, with Anna too, at the White House," Big pressed. "He wants to. So does the First Lady. They want to thank you."

"No!" Mike said angrily.

"Why? You're the real hero of the Ballroom Battle. Not Ricky or anyone else. You."

"I'm not a hero!" Mike yelled angrily. He walked away, trying to calm himself. Then he turned back to Big. "You like Star Trek? You figured out the destruct code."

Big shrugged, not sure where Mike was going with this.

"My favorite episodes are the time travel stories," Mike said. "Seeing how the dominos fall differently if you change one thing. If Ricky hadn't been there, everyone dies. The President, Jen, Anna, everyone. You take him away and everything's different."

"That's not clear," Big said, referring to the experts' reports.

"But he's a hero," Mike said.

Big shrugged conceding the point. "But so are you Mike," he said. "If you don't do what you did, everyone dies."

"But that's not how time travel works Alan!" Mike said with a pained expression. "If I had a time machine I'd go back farther! I'd fix Hal before all this happened! I knew how to do it I just didn't see it in time! No one needed to get hurt!"

"But Mike ... it's not your fault," Alan said.

"My daughter can't walk Alan!" Mike yelled, tears falling down his cheeks. "Anna can't walk!"

"Mike ...," Alan said, but his voice trailed off, not knowing what to say. Because he knew Mike was right.

****************

As Mike was talking to Big, Jen was with Ricky in his new apartment. "So you're popular," Jen said to Ricky. She was looking through the mountain of fan mail on his kitchen table. She grinned and said "I bet you're getting a lot of action with girls." At the ceremony he'd been surrounded by lots of pretty young girls. Lately he was on TV a lot and there were always a lot of adoring pretty girls there too.

"Jealous?" Ricky asked with a teasing grin back.

"I'm happy for you Ricky," she said seriously.

Ricky shrugged, clearly hoping for a different answer. He put his hand on her breast, cupping her. "I always did like you in a dress," he said, using her words from before. "Or out of it," he joked with a grin.

Jen gave him a weak smile. He pulled her into his arms. Then they were kissing. Undressing. Fucking. Making love.

Later they were in his bed, Jen underneath him. They were still panting from their sex. They were both naked, except Jen still wore thigh highs and high heels. Their faces were flushed from their orgasms.

Ricky rose up on his powerful arms and slowly pulled out. His cock was so long it seemed to take forever. Jen's body quivered at the pleasurable sensation. Ricky's cum leaked out of her pussy and ran down between her ass cheeks to the mattress.

"So, what?" he asked, falling onto the bed next to her. "We're going to fuck whenever we see each other?"

"This is the last time Ricky," Jen said sitting up. "I can't see you after this."

Ricky looked alarmed. "You're moving that soon?"

Jen shook his head. "Not yet. But you know Mike. He wants me with you. But it's killing him."

Jen moved off the bed but Ricky grabbed her wrist. "What do YOU want?" he asked.

"I'm not playing that what-if game anymore Ricky," Jen told. She got off the bed and got dressed.

"So this is it," Ricky said sullenly.

"This is it," Jen said in a soft voice. She ran her hand along his cheek. "You're a great hero Ricky. You're so brave. You deserve everything you're getting. But Mike's my hero. He'll always be my hero."

Jen tenderly kissed him. She said "Goodbye Ricky. I hope everything works out for you. And thank you." She kissed him again and they shared a look. Then she was gone.

****************

"Are you okay baby?" Jen asked when she got home.

Mike nodded. "How was the ceremony?"

"Okay I guess," Jen said with a shrug.

"How's Ricky?"

Jen moved between Mike's legs (he was sitting on the sofa and she was standing up). She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him so his face pressed against her tummy. Mike smelled her perfumed dress. And he smelled the muskiness of sex. The combination made him lightheaded.

"I said goodbye to Ricky today," she told him.

Mike pulled away and looked at her. "Okay ...," he said, his voice trailing off. Jen saw hurt in his face. Disappointment too.

"Mike baby ...," Jen said with a sigh. With her husband it was always the conflict.

"So ...," she said, leaning into him so his face pressed against her stomach again. She pulled up her skirt a little.

Mike immediately caressed the back of her thighs. He caressed behind her knees, making her shudder. He moved up to her stocking tops. Then her thighs above. Her inner thighs were moist. Ricky's cum.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

"Jen ...," he said lustfully, pulling her closer to him and fumbling under her dress. He dragged her into their bedroom.

Mike threw Jen onto the bed and pushed up her dress. Like the other day he parted and moved up her legs. Her thong was soaking and her thighs damp. He pulled her thong to the side and went down on her.

He made her cum. Like before, Jen kissed his face to clean him. Then they made love. Mike came after just a few strokes inside her used pussy.

After they lay on their sides and looked at each other. Mike looked troubled.

"Talk to me Mike," she urged. "Tell me what you're thinking. What's wrong." She knew of course, but they needed to talk about it.

Mike was quiet for long moments. Then he said "I didn't do my job. Ricky did his. It's hard to live with that."

"Mike -," Jen began but he cut her off.

He said "And now we're moving and no matter what you say, it feels like you're running away. From Ricky. And you're only staying with me because you feel obligated. Because I'm your emotional rock. And Anna's father."

"God Mike ...," Jen lamented, wincing from his words. "You're my hero," she said. "Not Ricky. You."

But Mike didn't feel that way. He didn't believe her. And Jen saw it in his face. She said, "Remember I told you, in high college, I got obsessed with chocolate? It started at Halloween one year. I couldn't get enough. I loved it."

Mike frowned at the non-sequitur. "You still love chocolate," he reminded her.

"I know, that's part what I'm saying," Jen said.

"Okay," Mike said, not sure where she was going with this.

"I was afraid of getting fat," Jen said continuing. "So I got all the chocolate in the house. My candy, our Halloween leftovers, Emma's ... and I took them over to Sophie's. Then you know what happened?"

"What?"

"After a while I forgot about it," Jen said. "I mean, when I went to Sophie's I'd eat some, and I loved it just as much. But when it wasn't around I didn't care."

"This is about Ricky," Mike said.

"It is Ricky," Jen said. "When he's around I can't get enough. When he's not I don't care. See?"

Mike shook his head, unconvinced. People were way more complicated than chocolate. And anyway, how did this help?

"Mike, think about it," Jen said pleadingly. "All those years after LA ... did I ever talk about Ricky? Hardly ever. And mostly when I did it was when you brought him up."

"But if he shows up you'll get obsessed with him again," Mike said.

"I don't know, maybe," Jen admitted with a shrug. "It's just chemicals, pheromones or something. People are like that sometimes. They have an attraction. But that's not love. It's not Mike. It's chocolate. That's all it is."

"This makes no sense," Mike said with a skeptical shake of his head.

"I guess maybe I am running away from Ricky," Jen admitted. "But you'll see I'll stop thinking about him, and it won't take long. Because he doesn't really matter. But when I went to LA, I never stopped thinking about you. When you left me after Frankie, I never stopped thinking about you. Because you're not chocolate Mike. You matter. And you're the only one."

Next - Epilogue (4 of 7): Jasmine

Epilogue (4 of 7): Jasmine

Jasmine liked to take long walks. It hadn't always been that way. But lately. Since Deidre died. Walking helped Jasmine to forget.

The election was coming up. She didn't care. Leo was confident she was going to win, with all the public sympathy and support after the Ballroom Battle. But Jasmine didn't care.

Deidre was gone and she was alone. It was hard living life alone. Especially when a big part of your life had to be secret. Because New York would never elect a lesbian as Senator. Not if you eventually wanted to be President.

And now Jasmine had lost her best friend. Her confidant. Her lover. She was alone.

Lately Jasmine found it hard to get up in the morning. Hard to do things. She had to talk to herself, the way Deidre used to do. Get up Jas. Take a shower Jas. Go to the office Jas.

It was getting chilly in New York, especially the evenings. Jasmine found herself in front of a coffee bar. "Get a coffee Jas," she told herself, shivering in her lightweight blouse.

"An expresso please," Jasmine said to the girl behind the counter.

The girl looked at Jasmine and tilted her head. "You look like you need something stronger than coffee," she said, an intrigued smile on her face.

"Well ..."

"Here," the girl said, fussing behind the counter. She put a tumbler and plate in front of Jasmine. "Try this. It's our Paps and Beignets."

"Ah ...," Jasmine sputtered, looking at the girl's offerings.

"Don't tell me you're a virgin," the girl teased, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"What?" Jasmine said not understanding.

"A bourbon and cupcakes virgin," the girl explained.

"I ah ...," Jasmine sputtered.

"You're Jasmine right?" the girl said. "The ESPN chick. Can I call you Jas?"

"I'm running for the Senate."

"I know, I'm just teasing Jas. Don't worry, I'm voting for you. I mean, like, I'm really going to vote Republican this time. I mean, hello?!!" the girl said with a bubbly laugh. She looked Jasmine up and down. "Wow, you're taller in person. Are you wearing heels? And sexier too. I think my tits are bigger than yours though. Don't get me wrong, yours are awesome. They're real, right? Mine are too."

Jasmine gawked at the girl. For the first time she looked at her. She was a little older and was beautiful with long dark hair. She had the dark complexion of an Italian (which she was). But she had the trace of a charming southern accent. She had an alluring, curvy hourglass body.

"Who are you, exactly?" Jasmine asked with not a little exasperation.

"I'm Juliet," Juliet said, a big bubbly smile on her beautiful face. "This is my place." She pushed over the tumbler of Pappy Van Winkle (it had one big ice cube). "Here sweetie I think you need this. It's really good. Drink Jas."

Next up - Epilogue (5 of 7): Frank

Epilogue (5 of 7): Frank

"So, you're moving," Frank said tersely.

"Yes," Jen said. They were in his Central Park penthouse. She was holding a small box. She handed it to him.

Holding the box, Frank raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "The jewelry you gave me," she told him. "And the panties. I'll send the dresses and other things over." She hesitantly added, "I'd like to keep the Jenny perfume, if that's okay."

Frank nodded. They lapsed into an awkward silence.

Trying to ease the tension in the room, Jen grinned and said "I guess I'll never find out the story behind the panties."

"No you won't," Frank told her. His voice was cold but there was emotion there too.

Jen gave him a weak smile. She squeezed his hand and said, "I want to thank you Frank. For what you did in the ballroom. Protecting Anna. That was really brave."

Frank frowned and looked down. "I regret her injuries," he said sadly.

Jen nodded and looked down too. Again they lapsed into silence.

"I have business interests in the Canary Islands," Frank finally said. "Perhaps I can visit ... to check on your daughter's recuperation."

Jen hesitated, then said "That would be really nice. I'd like that Frank."

Next Up - Epilogue (6 of 7): Allie

Epilogue (6 of 7): Allie

"Hey," Jen said in a soft voice.

"Hey," Allie said sliding into the chair across from Jen. They lapsed into an awkward silence. The waiter arrived. Allie ordered a white wine. Jen ordered water.

Allie gave Jen a questioning look. Jen whispered "I'm pregnant."

"Oh," Allie said shocked. "A lot has happened."

"Yeah, a lot," Jen said, looking down at her feet. "We're moving."

"Oh," Allie said, again surprised. "Far away?"

Jen nodded. There were tears in her eyes as she said "I know I've been horrible. I always hurt the people I love most."

Allie nodded but didn't say anything. She was hurting and resentful. She wasn't going to make it easy.

"I miss you Allie," Jen said, tears running down her cheeks. "Can you forgive me? Jasmine's best friend died. All I can think about is how I'm so happy I still have you. But now we're moving away." She was sobbing now.

Allie looked at Jen for a long time. She pursed her lips, not saying anything. Jen was all about Jen. She was a spoiled, selfish bitch, she'd always been that way. And she'd hurt her bad.

Still, Allie knew she had bitchy moments too, and she wasn't exactly innocent in all this. At the end of the day, Jen was her best friend, practically her sister. For years they had each other's back. Also - and this was really important - Allie was in a much better place now. A lot had happened to her too. She was happy again. Really happy. She felt herself again. The Allie before Darren. The Allie Oh-La-La. A guy could do that. Being in love could do that. With a good man.

Allie gave Jen a sassy smile. She said "If you ever do it again I swear I'll spank your ass."

Jen wiped the tears from her eyes, a weak smile coming to her face. "Oh baby, I'd like that," she joked, massive relief in her voice. But the repartee didn't work because at the end she had to blow her nose. They both laughed.

"So tell me the baby's Mike's," Allie said. When Jen looked down at her feet, she sighed "Oh my god." But they laughed again.

"So I met someone," Allie said, smiling ear-to-ear and a happy, delighted sparkle in her eyes.

"Yeah?" Jen said smiling back at her.

"Yeah," Allie said. With a laugh she added "At a bar. I'll never live it down."

"Okay," Jen said with a laugh back.

"So you really moving?"

Jen nodded. "The Canary Islands," she said.

Allie gawked at Jen. She said incredulously, "The Canary fucking Islands?" They laughed again.

Then Allie got serious. "DJ really misses Anna. How is she?" she asked with a concerned look on her face. Like their mothers, DJ and Anna were best friends. They'd been best buds since practically infants.

Jen's smile disappeared. "It'll be a long time before she walks again," she said, and suddenly she was crying again. Allie cried too.

"I'm so sorry!" Jen sobbed, desperately hugging Allie. "I'm so horrible! Please forgive me!"

"I do honey, I do," Allie said soothingly, hugging her back. Tears were falling down her cheeks too. "Anna'll get better. And the Canary Islands aren't that far way. We'll visit you. Me and Lou."

"Lou?"

"My new boyfriend," Allie told her, the happy sparkle in her eyes again.

Jen pulled away. "Wait, what?" she said shocked. Then she started laughing.

And finally, next up - Epilogue (7 of 7): Anna

Epilogue (7 of 7): Anna

Jen and Mike took Anna to their new doctor in the Canaries, for a follow-up visit. The doctor was one of the best in the world. They met him through Frank.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

The damage to Anna's knee was horrible! First she needed to heal. Then it was going to take multiple surgeries and that was before extensive PT. It might take years before she was able to walk again. Years! Just to walk!

Jen tried to keep a brave face. She as much as anyone knew there was more to life than dancing. But she feared for his daughter's spirit. Anna was such a delightful, outgoing, happy, bubbly girl. But what would she be like after years of physical therapy? After years of just trying to walk again? Especially after being so athletic before. Knowing what she had lost. Would it break her spirit? Ruin her happiness?

Jen tried not to cry. She forced away the tears. She had to be strong. She had to be brave for all of them, to help Anna through this.

Jen heard Mike with Anna in the TV room. With a tilted head, she went to see what they were doing.

"Banana, want to try something?" Mike asked Anna, sitting down next to her on the sofa.

"Sure," Anna said. Her leg was in a cast and propped up on the ottoman.

Mike handed Anna his iPad. There was a game playing on the screen. "This is Candy Crush," he said. "You swipe the screen to match candies. It gets harder as you go along."

Anna nodded, talking the iPad from him. She quickly got the hang of it and moved through the first levels. Then it got harder. She was clearly frustrated as she got stuck at level 7.

"Here, let me show you," Mike said. He swiped a pattern across the touchscreen and a window popped opened. It was an icon-based GUI. He selected and moved around a few icons. Then he gave the iPad back to Anna.

Anna got through level 7, then 8, then 9. She got stuck again at level 10. "What did you do?" she asked her father, clearly frustrated again.

"I'll show you," Mike said. He swiped across the screen to bring back the window. "I hacked into the game's software," he explained. He showed Anna how to do it. Anna was only a beginning reader so she couldn't write code. But, Mike's icon-based GUI captured all the principles, elements and logic of software.

Anna was smart and intuitive; she quickly got the hang of it. She selected and moved icons around. When one pattern didn't work, she tried another. When things didn't go exactly as she wanted, she made more changes. Soon Anna was all the way up to level 67 of Candy Crush. She actually had more fun playing with the icons than the game.

"Daddy I LIKE this!" Anna said enthusiastically. "What's it called?"

"It's called writing software," Mike told her.

"I LIKE writing software! I LIKE it!" Anna gushed excitedly. "Will you teach me more?!"

"I will teach you Anna," Mike said, kissing the top of her head. He was tearing up but he hid it. "I'll teach you everything I know."

In the hallway, Jen turned away, her hand going to her mouth, silently weeping. Her tears were of joy, and hope. Because now, maybe, Anna had something new to dream about. Something to inspire her. Something to keep her spirit fresh and alive.

And her tears were for the love of her husband. Because once again, Mike had saved them. He was her hero.

~~~~~~~ The End ~~~~~~~

[sri7869]

Good story