-Everything here seems too familiar. Karen sighed

    The year following Joe's encounter in Houston, in 1993, Karen and her family moved to San Francisco for a short while, Ian had a mutation in Miscrosoft Corporation San.F., it led him and his family to California. They expected to stay here until 1995 and then move back to New York, since Karen didn't really like San Francisco for her memories there, hidding from Joe, from people, just for hollidays, back in 1988 or 1989. They found a nice apartment in the center of the city, big enough for the kids, with a school in the same district. The Jacobs family had everything to live a nice life in California, everything.

    Karen watched the city from the terasse and gently walked away. She had so many projects here, and already had several meetings with Cameron on the way to talk about the new prototypes, virtual mailboxes and a possible partnership. On her way, the redhead wanted to spend more time with Joanie and Haley, who were already teenagers. She couldn't believe that these two little girls she used to babysit nine years ago were about to enter in high school . Haley was thirteen, Joanie was fifteen. Both of those two kids she used to love were now almost turning like here. Donna and Gordon divorced, Cameron's husband Tom Rendon left her, so she wouldn't come back to Japan. From such a wave, Karen was the only one who had a "normal"life.

-It's still a nice city,  isn't it ? Ian asked, getting to his wife

    The redhead had everything to be happy. She had a husband, had children, had a job. Everything for her, and however she missed something. She missed the freedom she once had. When she was dreaming about this old time, about a decade ago, when she used to enjoy her life, she always told herself the same thing. Only one clear sentence that was making her go back to the reality of being a mother, and a fullgrown woman.

" - We're no longer children. "

    Ian wrapped his arm around Karen's shoulders, they watched the city, closing their eyes, barely listening to their children who were fighting to have the TV program they wanted. They kept quiet, breathing a little, relaxing. The soulmates dreamt of freedom. Ian had the same desire, being free, even just a hour, rediscover who he once was. However, everything made those two souls turn back to the reality. If they only tried to get drunk once again, just like they were a long while ago, they would end up on their bed for three or four days with a terrible hangover. If they wanted to skip a night walking around the city all alone, they would need two days of sleep just to feel awake. They weren't old, but they knew they were slowly getting to that point where having fun was just sitting on their sofa and sleep.

-Have you got some plans for the week ? Ian asked, placing his head over Karen's

-I gotta meet Cameron and Donna's girls. For now, at least, that's all I have to do.

-And what about the beardie psychopath ?

-Ian, for the love of god, last time you saw Joe, it was okay. I have to meet him soon just to go to the girl's prototypes exposition, that's all.

-You know I don't trust Joe.

    Karen grinned a little. She had to go and visit Haley and Joanie at their respective school to assist to their exposition, where they would show their own creations. The Clark sisters paired to make a new computer and create a mailbox they called Microphonix, which called Joe's attention. So, on the way, he contacted Karen to come with him so they would judge the two girls. She then thought about Gordon and the way he would greet her once he would see her again. She didn't really like Katie, Gordon's new girlfriend, mostly because she wasn't the woman she expected for the guy she treated like a brother. Karen knew Katie a little, and there was no real feeling of love for her when she met her for the first time, and there was even less sympathy from the redhead when she saw her again, screaming on Gordon about some food. She expected nothing from this woman, just someone that would make Gordon happy although his illness and his current situation with Donna. Gordon was happy, Karen had nothing to say about it.

-I know you don't, but please. Just... try to move on. You're no longer a kid.

-Yeah, I'll try. Ian nodded

    Right at this moment, Joe was getting ready to work with Gordon. He didn't expect to meet Karen again, especially not here, in San Francisco. They were still in contact as they used to be, they were still close. The only thing that was changing from ten years ago : Karen was a mother, a wife, an engineer and, first of all, known for her prototypes at Microsoft's company settled in New York. She was a manager of her own team, programing, creating. She designed the first real enterfaces of the upcoming internet and online media. Joe was, at this moment, working for CalNect with Gordon, in Mutiny's former offices. He didn't have the fame he used to have a while ago. Since the downfall of MacMillan Utility and his projects of living a "normal" life, the manipulative and ethnocentric Joe MacMillan became someone gentle, someone quiet. Joe was a real human, that's what he became. He expected Karen to meet him again. He had projects, collaborations with her. Since Karen was working for a great company, he expected her to help them to get some fame. He knew it woud have a price, but trusted her.

-Are you aware about the fact that Karie is back in San Francisco ? Gordon asked, checking his files

-Wait. What do you mean by " being back " ? She's already been here ? Joe answered

    Gordon nodded with a smirk. It seemed that nobody was aware of Karen's former presence in San Francisco. Nobody even suggested that she left New York City. Of course, he knew the redhead didn't want Joe to know anything about it, but mostly thought that she informed a few people, those she loved.

-She's been back here about... five years ago. I think it was in 1988. I don't really remember.

-And she didn't tell me anything back then. I was in San Francisco when she came around, and she basically didn't tell me anything.

-Oh, perhaps she wasn't ready to see you again. You know, Karen's always been an easy girl. That's kinda easy for me to understand why she didn't call you. She was with Cameron most of the time.

    The tall man sighed and crossed his arms on his chest. His heart rushed a little once he listened to what Gordon had to say about Karen. They saw each other just a year ago, they barely began to see each other more often, perhaps five times a year, for a week or two. Karen was slowly forgiving Joe for what happened ten years ago, but not enough to remain in peace with him.

-Feels kinda... sad. Joe sighed

-Oh c'mon, don't be like that. Karen's here and you'll have some time to see each other again.

-If her humanoid-psychotic husband doesn't tell her shit about me.

    Gordon sighed, rose his arms in the air and grumbled, then slapped Joe's arm. He was pissed, too pissed by his constant possessive remarks towards the woman who threw him away a while ago. Even now, even a decade after they left each other, it was like Joe never got over it.

-Don't talk like that. Ian's a good guy.

-Yeah, yeah. I already know.

-Then why do you keep saying shit about him ?

-Because I just can't stand him. Even now. Do you know what we did last time we had a talk ? We drank a beer. And then, he ordered an Irish Whiskey. Do you believe that ? He took an Irish Whiskey. After a beer.

-Oh man, everything is good enough to despise him, I know it already.

    It was true. Last time Joe and Ian met, not so long ago, when Karen was in Houston with the children, the two men took some time to be together and have a talk about their lives, they almost threatned each other when they talked about Karen and about her place. For Ian, it was a wife. For Joe, it was an ex. Nothing less, nothing more. Since that single moment, Joe and Ian could not even stand being together in a room. Karen and Cameron planned several meetings, including both Joe and Ian, and they feared that moment when their eyes would cross.

    Karen and Cameron met the following day. They spent the whole day together, siting at Karen's terrasse, talking about their projects, talking about life, stuff, children... and then came THE subject. Cameron began to talk about her feelings left for Joe. The way she spoke, the way she behaved towards Karen, the way she was explaining herself... everything made the redhead think that the former blondie was still in love with Joe, at least a little.

-I'm sure Joe loves you too. Karen bitterly smiled

-Karie, I don't wanna be with him. I don't like him enough to just... show my feelings again. He corrupted me and used me, manipulated me. How do you expect me to be kind with him ?

-You told me you guys were living in good terms.

-Kinda. It's just for work. We share our ideas, but we no longer fuck as we used to. We're adults, what else ?

    It wasn't hard to notice how nostalgic Cameron was when she talked about Joe. Ten years ago, she was his, entirely his. And that day, in 1993, she was nobody for him. Perhaps a former love, perhaps a crush, perhaps something. She was free. Karen grabbed a beer and nodded, sighing a little without saying a word. Cameron turned her head to her and smiled.

-You know... sometimes, I envy you. she said

-What ? Why ?

-Because you've got everything. You have a husband, two children, a super job, you're a manager, you're... just the only person I know, from my age, who had some success in her life. Success everywhere.

-Hey, don't say that. I paid a high price to be what I am right now, I bet you know it, all of these things that happened since 1982 forced me to move on.

-Yeah, but you made it. You have a purpose. I don't.

    Karen gave a soft slap on Cameron's arm. The woman laughed a little and shook her head, making Karen sigh. They were so alike, back in a time... and there they were. The opposite. One made a family, the other one was left behind. From a sight, Cameron soothed Karen's anger, and yet really meant what she said. Her jealousy for Karen never stopped growing. She always had this singular feeling. Karen had everything, she had nothing. And she loved her. Cameron loved Karen, she never stopped loving her.

-You're such an idiot to believe me. Cameron laughed

-Don't say such a thing, never say it.

-No worries. We'll have to cooperate on some softwares, don't you think ?

    Karen nodded. In the early evening, Joe and Karen had a small talk in the phone. Joe proposed her to meet at his favorite bar, Karen accepted. Once they saw each other, they litteraly jumped in the arms of the other. After the embrace, after a talk, after many things, they convinced each other to attend to the Haley and Joanie's school for the exposition which was happening the following week. They were impatient, just to see how the girls worked on Microphonix.

-That's gonna be a thing. Joe smiled

-Yeah, for sure. I believe they made a great job.

    They were right. The following week, Gordon, Katie, Joe and Karen headed to the exposition. People knew Karen a little, she was the high representative of Microsoft, here, in a random school of San Francisco. Surounded by projects, most of them being hybrid radios or hybrid televisions, only the Clark sisters made something out of a computer. Karen surprised them at the exposition.

-Oh god Karen ! Oh god ! Joanie shouted once she saw the redhead

-Hey girls ! Karen smiled

-You came !

    The girls ran into Karen to embrace her. Her eyes widdened towards the two women she had in front of her. Better than on the pictures. Joe watched them and waved the sisters who greeted him. He wrapped his arm around Karen's shoulders and watched the girls and their invention.

-Permit us to present you Microphonix ! Haley proudly said, With seven softwares, including one with a microphone included to write some mails from your voice !

-Oh ! Does it works ? Karen asked

-Yeah of course ! Give it a try !

    Joe stepped closer and took the microphone. The girls switched the software on and took up the list of codes they wrote.

-Say something, Joe ! Joannie said

-Okay. Uh... Well. " Hello, my name is Joe MacMillan, I'm 46, I live in San Francisco. "

    The computer began to search for some letters. Karen watched the screen with the small virtual sandglass while Joe crossed his arms on the chest, sending a sweet wink to the sisters who clapped hands, out of enthousiasm. A few lists of letters began to show up on the screen, the whole alphabet, twice.

-Well... Joe sighed

-Give it some time. Karen smiled, It's a new computer.

- " /Hello-my-name-is-Hoe-MacDonald-I-am-4-6-I-leave-in-Sant-France-Cocoa-Period/ "   

    That singular answer the computer gave to Joe made Haley gasp. She covered her face by her hand, laughing a little, facing such a tragedy. When Karen red the sentence, she laughed, hardly trying to stay serious. It was like the computer forgot some words, or just didn't have a few names in its basis. At least, they tried to make an improvment, that was the first thing Karen noticed.

-Hello, Hoe MacDonald ! she laughed, softly slapping Joe's arm, Nice to meet you !

-Your software needs some improvment. Joe smiled, pinching his chin with a soft laugh. Didn't you enter San Francisco in the internal dictionary ?

-We kinda did. Haley sighed, It's only your way to pronounce it !

    Everyone laughed. Microphonix attracted many people, not because of the technology... but because it was a source of fun for people passing by, being able to talk, their words being transcribed in the machine by a microphone, and sometimes really different from what they said. A great source of fun, especially for the teens around who were trying to experiment how many swearing words the machin had in its internal dictionary. Many of them were satisfyed, some people were even inventing some swearing words. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not... until the whole machine crashed. People used it a little too much, that much that it refused to work again.

-God damnit ! Haley shouted, Why the hell isn't that working anymore ?!

-We worked months to produce this ! Joanie snarled to her sister, Shit !

-I'll try to fix it, no worries girl. Gordon sighed.

    Following the exposition, Gordon packed the computer and brought him home. Joe and Karen worked with him for a huge part of the night, until Gordon recieved a call from Cameron. She was pissed by the fact that Ian, for more than five times, called her to know where Karen was.

-Clark, there's Ian asking for his wife since three hours already. she said

-Oh shit I forgot to call him ! Karen gasped, I'll leave you here guys.

-I'll drive you home. Joe proposed

-No, that's not a good idea Joe. I'll go home by myself.

    Karen rushed out of the house, ran to the closest bus which led her back to the city. Once she came back home, Ian was already asleep, some candies on the stomach. Karen walked to the kid's rooms and checked for them, both were asleep. She then went to see her husband, sweetly waking him up. It was 2:46AM. Ian opened his eyes on her and sighed.

-Where have you been... ? he mumbled, You went to Gordon's house and ... gone...

-The girls had a problem with their computer, you should have seen it. Very good thing, a microphone linked to an internal dictionary, transcribing words on the screen.

-Yeah... did you get rid of the problem ?

-Not entirely, I'll work on that next time.

-Just... call me next time you have something like this... I was worried sick about you...

    Ian streched arms and forced Karen to bend a little. She embraced him and kissed his cheek with a bright smile. She then helped him to wake up, rubbing some dusk off his tee-shirt, leading him to bed. They quickly fell asleep, while Joe was thinking about Karen, all alone in his apartment. She didn't change, she was as beautiful as she used to be. He kept the picture of them both, kissing each other, nine years ago. He kept that picture for himself, knowing that Ian was aware of this kiss. He loved this picture, the only one he had with Karen. And, perhaps, in his boxes, a pictures of his whole team at IBM, Karen included, holding her first prototype.

-I miss this time. Joe shighed

    He kept staring at the picture. He began to think that he never got over it, over Karen's love. He sometimes believed she was still his, but he just had to notice her right hand, her golden ring on her ring finger. That was it. He turned his head back to the window and sighed a little, his headphones on, listening to some music, all alone. He was alone, he knew he would finish his life alone. This feeling of solitude was haunting him, but he was used to it. He was used to feel loneliness in the middle of the night, left to himself. He was alone.

-Shit, it's happening again. Joe sighed

Joe then sat on the ground, his heart rushing, in the middle of his pillows, alone, gasped and left the picture on the ground. He knew Karen was no longer his, and still believed she would come back to him, be close to him as she used to be back a decade ago. He knew he would see her the following day, but working with her, spending time with her, loving her... all those memories, so far away, all those things were gone. He felt lonely for the first time, thinking about the life he would have had if Karen didn't leave him. He thought about himself, a decade ago. He was an idiot, he couldn't love himself since Karen left him for Ian. And there, alone, he was facing Karen's life. Facing her children, facing her husband. Everything he used to know, all of these moments... were gone. His arms were left on his knees, he crossed his fingers and sighed. He didn't notice it, but slowly began to cry.

"- I miss loving you, Karen... " Joe thought, leaving sorrow invade him