Carol sat at her computer, reading once again the message from Connor. A party to help Katherine get the coffee shop ready, hm? Could be fun, and Carol was more than a little curious about Katherine. She finished the last of her morning coffee and went to haul Monroe out of bed.

Mullard was wandering down the stairs as she went up. He couldn't resist grabbing her and giving her a big wet kiss on the cheek. "You look happy this morning, chere."

Carol wrapped her arms around him and drew him close. "I'm always happy. I live with the two sweetest guys in town. This is your day off, isn't it?"

"Oui, chere. You have plans?" He ground his hips against her suggestively.

"MMmmmmmm…..... We'll save that for later. Today we're going to the coffee shop and help Katherine clean. Remember? Its been too long since I've seen Connor and I've just gotta meet this Katherine he's so involved with. Should be fun, too."

He grinned. "If you are there, it will be."

Carol chuckled. "We're gonna have fun tonight when we get home. Flattery will get you everywhere, with me, you know."

He rubbed against her and whispered in her ear. "I know." Then he danced away down the stairs grinning at her.

"Can you fix a pot of good, strong coffee, hon? Monroe's gonna be a tough case to get out of bed this morning."

"One pot of mud, coming up, chere." He whistled as he walked into the kitchen.

Carol stood for a moment staring after him and grinning. Finally, she sighed and continued up the stairs and into the bedroom. Monroe was sprawled over the bed, still snoring very softly. He slept in the nude and the covers had slipped off sometime in the night. She had to just stand and admire him for a few minutes. He was like a work of art. A snoring work of art.

She plopped down on the bed, hoping to startle him awake. His snoring skipped a beat, but his eyes remained firmly closed. So much for that idea. "Monroe. Time to get up!" She gently shook him.

He moaned and mumbled in his sleep, rolling over and turning away from her.

"Monroe! Hey! We've got things to do today!" She shook him harder.

He mumbled something unintelligible and rolled onto his stomach, pulling a pillow over his head.

Carol gave an exasperated sigh. Then she had an idea. With a grin, she laid down next to him cuddling against him. She used her sexiest voice in his ear. "Hey, guy! I bet I know something that would wake you up." She nibbled and licked at his ear, while one hand stroked along his side and down to his slender hips.

He made a noise that sounded like, "Mmmmmmm…....." His eyes remained closed, though. He squirmed a little, rolling partway to his side.

Carol gave a wicked chuckle and her hand stroked his stomach and moved slowly down to explore the wonders between his legs. Even half-asleep as he was, he began to harden quickly.

Finally, he opened his eyes. "Hey." He mumbled.

"You want me to stop?" She teased and stuck her tongue in his ear. He hated that. "The only way I'll stop is if you get up now."

"Oh damn….... Now?"

"Did I keep you up too late again last night?" She giggled.

He grinned and sighed. "You always do." He glanced at the clock on the nightstand and frowned. "Its not even noon. Why do I have to get up?"

"Because we promised Connor we would help with the cleaning at the coffee shop today. Remember?"

He moaned. "That's today?" The look on her face confirmed it for him. "All right. I'm up."

She slid her hand back around to his sexy little ass. "You better be. I have all kinds of little torments I can use." She gave him a pinch.

"Ow!! What was that for?"

"Just a little reminder of how uncomfortable I can make you if you don't get that cut little butt of yours out of bed." She kissed him on the cheek and stood up, pulling at his arms to help him up.

He sighed and started to move toward the edge of the bed, then gave her arms a jerk, pulling her down onto him. He ignored her protests and gave her a deep kiss, his tongue tasting hers, making her breathless. Then he abruptly stopped and jumped up off the bed and chuckled at her. "I can tease, too, you know." He went off to the shower, leaving her chuckling on the bed.

At last, the three of them were ready, the guys in jeans and T-shirts, and Carol in black shorts and a purple shirt, tied up just under her breasts, keeping the guys staring at her. It was a really nice day, so they were enjoying the walk. When they are a few blocks away they could already hear the voices from the coffee shop. There were people working out on the terrace and they could see people through the curtainless windows.

Monroe was licking his lips, watching Carol walk and trailing along behind, while Mullard held her hand and made her laugh as they walked. He heard the voices and saw the crowd. "Sounds like a party." He grinned in anticipation.

Carol started walking faster. She could see quite a number of very yummy men all working. She grinned to herself.

"Can't wait to watch them work, chere?" Mullard teased.

Inside the coffee house all the immortals suddenly stopped what they were doing as they felt the presence of another one of their kind approaching. Connor put down the screwdriver he was using to put together the display case he was working on and walked to the door and looked outside.

Carol could feel that there were a number of Immortals already there. Connor's familiar buzz seemed to stand out to her and then she saw him in the doorway. "Connor! We made it!" She waved and walked faster yet, straight into his arms, giving him a hug. "Its been too long. I hear you're doing great, though. You look happy." She pulled back and pulled her guys to her, giving them both a hug.

"Doesn't it feel great to be with someone you love? I can see the change in you. So do I get to meet her?" She released her guys with a kiss on the cheek to both of them and they went on in, grinning.

Connor grinned in appreciation of how she looked as she walked in. "It's about time you got here!" He gave Carol a playful swat on the rear as she passed him. "Come on over and meet Katherine"

Carol followed him, distracted a moment here and there at the sight of a number of gorgeous men, some of them shirtless, bending over working on various things. She suppressed a giggle and tried to look serious. She was glad she had braided her hair. Less chance of getting it into paint and things. She realized finally who Katherine must be. Connor had led her into the kitchen to a short, young-looking woman who seemed to be very happy.

"Katherine, I presume?" Carol asked, extending her hand in friendship. "Somehow I didn't picture you so short." She smiled.

Katherine looked up from the painting she was doing and reached out a paint stained hand. She was dressed in jean shorts and a gingham crop top tied under her breasts like the one Carol wore. At first glance she appeared to be an average high school kid, but there was a certain presence about her that immediately attracted the attention of Carol's two male escorts. "Yes, I'm Katherine. And you are?" she asked, shooting a questioning look at Connor, who was leaning against the doorway, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

Carol gave Connor a look and grinned. "I'm Carol. I was his last student. I've heard a lot about you. Looks like the two of you are really good for each other. He doesn't usually look so pleased with himself." She grinned. "I heard about you quite a bit back then, and lately a lot through the grapevine. I haven't been out much lately. My guys and I have been umm…..... spending a lot of time at home for the time being." She grinned at Mullard and Monroe, who were hovering nearby.

Katherine nodded her head in understanding of what Carol was saying, giving her an appraising look. She was aware that Connor and she had in the past had shared more than a teacher/student relationship. "Connor told me about you, too. I'm glad to finally meet you". She then looked at Connor and asked "So how many of you CLims are here now?"

Carol gave Katherine an appraising look and grinned. She collected Monroe and Mullard, sliding an arm around each of them. "Katherine, I know you haven't met my guys yet. This is Monroe, and my sweet little Frenchman is Mullard. The loves of my life. Honestly, I used to have a thing for Connor, but we're just friends now, I promise."

Connor stuck his head back into the coffee shop and did a quick head count. "15 counting these two". He was watching Katherine and Carol closely, wondering if they would get along. They were such different personalities.

Katherine smiled at Monroe and then greeted Mullard in French. She turned her attention back to Carol, amused at what she was reading from the other Immortal. Apparently she was going to have a very good time watching all the men busily at work around the building.

Carol grinned at Connor and hugged her guys tighter. Mullard glanced at Connor and cuddled closer to Carol, kissing her cheek. Monroe just grinned at Connor and snuggled against Carol on his side. Carol couldn't completely suppress a giggle. "Male hormones."

Connor rolled his eyes as Katherine joined in the giggling. "I think that is my cue to get back to work. Come on, guys. I'll find you something to do". The three men left the room together.

Carol called after them, "Guys, be good! We'll have our own little party later." She giggled again. "That'll keep their minds a little unbalanced today." She grinned at Katherine. "I'm really happy for the two of you. You know, its only since I've been here and met those two that I've really been happy. Its just no fun wandering around alone." She paused and grinned. "Well, most of the time, anyway."

"Thanks!" Katherine grinned happily. "I'm glad for you". She was starting to like this other Immortal. "I can't imagine what it would be like without Connor here with me. When we are together it just seems like all the pieces fit."

"I know just what you mean! You know, when I grew up, I had all these ideas of what I wanted out of life and suddenly everything changed and pretty much turned upside down. I never would have dreamed I'd be living with two men. And being an Immortal…... I had to take a head the very next night after I became an Immortal. Saved Duncan's life. Then he handed me off to Connor because he couldn't take on a woman student at the time. Life has pretty much been a roller coaster ever since. This is the first time I've felt really at peace. I haven't been around nearly as long as you, I'm only about 50. What's it been like for you? Maybe we should get together and just talk sometime. Its not very private here." Carol gave Katherine a hug.

Katherine got a far away look on her face. "There have been good times of course over the last 400+ years, but then there are some I wish I could forget." She sighed deeply. "I never have taken part in the Game. Guess I've been lucky, despite all the other crap that has happened to me. I would love to talk to you, anytime you feel like it." She smiled softly, lost in some memories for a moment, both good and bad. Then she tipped her head to one side like she was listening to something and she broke out into a radiant smile. "Ev and Rayden are on their way over!"