#paperplanesandwallflowers

[allie1804-fan]

NEW BEGINNINGS

Summary: Keanu is dating Emily a 37 year old scriptwriter. One day their desire to have a family together is sparked and a rocky journey to that destination begins.

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New Beginnings Baby Drabble 

New Beginnings Baby Drabble No2

LA

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in May and the party was in full swing with people spilling out from the house onto the patio which bordered a large garden. The soundtrack  outside was a hubbub of adult voices mingling with the excited screams and laughter of small children running about through a water sprinkler in the sunshine. Inside the house, the volume was lower and there was a decidedly female skew to the voices which oohed and aahed over a tiny baby, just 1 week old.

Emily and her boyfriend Keanu had just arrived at the party being held at their good friends’ home. John and Chloe’s were holding a birthday party for their 4 year old  son Jamie who was Emily’s godson.

Chloe steered them through to the kitchen to get them a drink and say hi to John who was getting ready to barbecue.  As they wandered out to the patio, Keanu was almost knocked flying by the whirlwind that was little Jamie, shouting out his name excitedly and throwing his arms around his legs.

“hey little guy, happy birthday!” Keanu greeted him warmly. The two had a strong bond. Ever since he’d been going out with Emily and been introduced to Chloe, her best friend from college about a year before, he’d hit it off with Jamie and they’d babysat him quite often to give his parents a break. Story-time with Keanu was Jamie’s favourite thing and they’d bought him a gift which followed that theme.

“Are we allowed to give him his present yet?” Keanu asked Chloe, keen to see if he liked it.

“Sure, we decided to let him do it individually rather than have a long session opening everything so that’s fine”

“You want your present now Jamie?” Keanu asked lifting him up in his arms.

“Yeah” Jamie shouted throwing his arms in the air in excitement.

“All right” Keanu  agreed, walking over to a bench in a quieter area of the patio,  setting the little guy down and beckoning over to Emily to bring the gift she was still carrying. Jamie tore open the parcel with enthusiasm, revealing a plush toy monkey and the book “Monkey See Monkey Do”

“Cool, thank you Uncle Keanu and Aunty Emily” he said politely. He called them aunt and uncle even though they weren’t.

“Will you read it to me?”

This was directed at Keanu who looked up at Emily as he answered.

“yes sure – you go and see your girlfriends hun, I’ll stay here and read with Jamie”

Keanu lifted Jamie onto his knee and opened the book, starting to read and do actions with the toy. Emily wandered back to the house and through to the quieter living room where several women were still taking turns holding the new born.

Emily softly greeted her friends not wanting to disturb the baby.  Emily was a screenwriter and most of the group were connected through either their work or their studies several years earlier at UCLA.  Emily had recently turned 37 and was well established as a writer, mainly for films though she sometimes made a foray into TV which was how she’d met Keanu when she was working on a script for a show called “Rain” around a year earlier.  Half her cohort of friends were fully involved in their careers and another half, like Chloe had started families. Sam was the latest to join the mummies group and it was her little boy Jake that was inspiring all the cooing of the ladies, even those like Emily who had no children yet and didn’t even know if she ever would want them.

“Do you wanna hold him Emily?”  Katie, who was currently having her cuddle on the sofa, asked her.

“Sure but don’t, you know, disturb him or anything. Knowing me, you’ll hand him over and he’ll start crying!”

“Nahh – he’s just been fed and is super chilled out”

Sam nodded “She’s right, he seems pretty chill most of the time but after a feed he’s super chill, come on sit here and Katie can slide him over”

Emily acquiesced and sat alongside Katie, making a cradle shape with her arms ready for the baby.

As Katie manoeuvred little Jake across to Emily, she felt his weight in her lap and his warmth seep into her chest. As she breathed in his baby smell, something inside felt different from any other time she’d held a baby in her arms. She remembered a story from her childhood about a dragon called Ignis who was frustrated because he couldn’t yet breathe fire. Once the spark from a volcano had got inside and lit his fire, he felt the warmth spread through him and bring him to full life. Right then, as she looked down at Jake, she felt that same kind of spark within. She took a sharp breath in trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill out.

“Ahh there she is” a deep voice spoke. It was Keanu who’d finished his story-time with Jamie and had just come in to find Emily, the little lad still on his hip.

Emily looked up and smiled brightly, tamping down the emotion but it was still palpable to Katie who looked from Keanu to Emily with a knowing smile.

“These guys will be next, mark my words” she teased looking from one to the other, each with children hugged close to their bodies”

Both Emily and Keanu blushed and he laughed, his hand over his mouth. “I don’t know about that. Anyway John told me to come and tell you guys that food is ready out on the patio”

Most of the ladies got up and Emily passed little Jake back to Sam, offering to bring her a plate to save disturbing the baby. Keanu grabbed her hand and they went out to get food. Once Emily had taken Sam her food, they mingled with the other guests for the rest of the party and tried to put the awkward moment out of their minds though the subject was never far from Keanu’s thoughts even as they chatted to the other guests.

He was almost 20 years her senior but when they’d met through the script she was writing, he’d felt an instant attraction. He’d dared to ask her out and was delighted when she’d said yes. After only a few dates, he knew it was getting serious for him and he told her  he’d understand if she thought it was best to bow out now because of the age gap. He didn’t want to trap her in something she would want to escape later on.  Her reaction was etched in his memory. Her hand cupping his cheek she’d laid her heart on the line

“Keanu, I, … I think I’m falling in love with you and, frankly I couldn’t care less about your age, I just want to be with you. Is that OK?”

His lips had crashed to hers in an instant and they’d not looked back since. They had talked about whether she wanted kids and she’d said then, at 35 that, whilst she knew her body clock was ticking on, she still wasn’t sure if she wanted them or not. He was happy either way and if she did decide she wanted them she’d be open to alternative ways to parent than having their own kids. There was no pressure on either of them.

But that day at the party, everything changed.

[allie1804-fan]

Ile de Re (Chapter 1)

I wrote this fic  last year, mostly while on holiday on this lovely island.  If you are on Archive of Our Own, you may have seen it before. Written before Matrix 4 was announced and before Covid so sorry that the timelines are no longer realistic!

Summary

Keanu meets a chef to help him prepare for a movie role. Events conspire for them to spend even more time together than they planned and despite the large age gap, romance ensues.

1 2 3 4 5  6 7 8

April 2020

Keanu hung up the phone and quietly fist pumped to himself. He’d just had news that a new project had been green lit. It was one he’d been collaborating on for some time - where he’d play an American chef, somewhat down on his luck who was establishing a new restaurant in a rural French town. The thing that thrilled him most was that the project afforded him the chance to finally learn how to cook – at least a bit - because he’d need to demonstrate some skill in the film itself and to ‘find’ his character he wanted to understand more about the craft of being a chef – especially the passion that drove them.

He went to his office and pulled out his laptop, opening a file holding details of some chefs who Erwin’s team had tracked down that fit the bill in terms of the knowledge they had and their personal experiences. He dropped an e mail first to a chef names Yves Le Gouhier and another to a woman called Claire Bonnevin. They each had restaurants in LA but were French natives who had trained at home before heading to America to open restaurants of their own. He hoped that the guy would say yes since he felt he’d probably relate better to his experience however he checked out both of their bios and looked at restaurant reviews on line.

A few days later, the decision was made for him as to who would give him the coaching as Mr Le Gouhier was out of town for at least a couple of months, establishing a new restaurant whereas Ms Bonnevin was able to fit him in for some daily ‘classes’ starting the following week. Whilst mildly disappointed, he also recalled that he’d actually eaten at Ms Bonnevin’s place once and had really rated the cooking which mixed homespun flavours with Gallic finesse - the seafood there was to die for.  He responded quickly in the affirmative, and ever the perfectionist, asked if there was anything he needed to bring or any preparatory work he could do before Monday. Claire replied that if he could let her have a working copy of the script and tell her what his favourite meal was before the weekend – they could work on the skills he’d need to demonstrate in the film and, depending on what the meal was, also aim to make his favourite meal to a good standard by the end of the week. If he had some friends who’d like to eat what he made, then he should ask them if they were free.

“What a question!” he pondered, thinking about what his favourite meal was. Keanu was a man who liked to eat - so much so that he needed the counsel of his trainer Denise to keep off the pounds in between films! Would it be a good steak with garlicky greens and crushed potatoes?, veal with a cream and mushroom sauce, roast lamb with flageolets and dauphinois potatoes – this task was just making him hungry!  He decided on the latter thinking it would be a challenge and fitted with the style of cooking they had at “Le Chat Botte” which was Claire’s restaurant. The pressure of feeding something he’d made that wasn’t bacon and eggs or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was both thrilling and unnerving. He messaged his sister Kim, his mother and friends Rob, Alex and Josh who were all pleased to be free although they joked that they might need to go to Macdonald’s to fill up afterwards!

Monday came around and Keanu pulled up at “Le Chat Botte” at 9am prompt. Entering via the service entrance as instructed, he walked into a spotless kitchen with gleaming stainless steel work stations, hobs and ovens  ranged along one wall and a large wooden kitchen table in the centre which had 2 sets of chopping boards in different colours along with a variety of knives, spatulas and other cooking implements arranged side by side in the centre of the table. No-one was in sight though Keanu could hear the sound of a voice coming from an adjoining room. Walking across the kitchen he stuck his head round the door of what turned out to be an office where he saw a petite, dark haired woman he recognised (from her bio) as Claire Bonnevin  - she was speaking to someone on the phone in French. She raised her hand to him in greeting, mouthing sorry and hurried to complete the call.

“Oui, Oui, je te rapellerai demain  - mon nouvel client vient d’arriver, oui oui c’est lui, donc il faut que j’accroche.  D’accord d’accord, je sais. Au revoir”

Claire turned to Keanu blushing - she had the distinct impression that he’d understood that she’d just referred to him in her conversation.

“so sorry about that – that was my restaurant manager back home in France just giving me an update on my dad  - he’s not been too well recently so we’ve been talking every day” Her English accent was excellent with only a slight gallic note.

Keanu stuck out his hand

“Nice to meet you Ms Bonnevin and no problem – you didn’t need to rush them off the line on my account”

Claire smiled and shook his hand, “I heard you were impossibly polite! – of course I did, I was eating into your paid time – nice to meet you too by the way. Keanu grinned - Claire could feel the colour rising in her cheeks again  - she wasn’t exactly sure why - maybe it was the directness of his gaze or the brilliance of his smile.

“So, are you ready for your training?”

Keanu chuckled and responded with what he thought was the expected reply “hell yeah” but Claire didn’t react, “maybe the Matrix reference was unintentional” he thought – she was pretty young after all, (her bio said she was 35) so maybe she was one of the few whom it had passed by!

“So let’s go through to the kitchen and get started” she said leading the way back to the room where Keanu had entered earlier.

For the next 4 hours they talked through and tried out some of the particular skills that would be needed in kitchen scenes. Whilst they worked, they got to know each other a little with Claire wanting to find out about Keanu’s food knowledge and experience and Keanu quizzing her about her beginnings in the industry. He discovered that she grew up on a tiny west coast island in France called L’Ile de Re” where her Dad still owned a restaurant called, like hers in LA, “Le Chat Botte”.  He no longer worked as a chef there but lived in the little village where it was, hence the manager being able to keep Claire appraised of his health.  She’d learned her craft there and then moved on to train in Paris, New York and then LA to establish her namesake restaurant in the US.

For her part, from what Keanu said, she could see that despite not having grown up in a house where people had a passion for cooking, he nevertheless clearly had a passion for food  - from the humble sandwich to fine foods from around the globe. He was also a quick study, picking up the knife skills needed to finely chop onions and garlic on film that he’d need. She was a patient teacher, though she would occasionally break into French when she was struggling to communicate the exact technique such as when at first he couldn’t master the rotation of the knife needed to chop finely:

“tient tient, comme ca” she said, placing her hand over his to show how the blade needed to rock back and forth over the garlic.

At 12 they broke for lunch at which point Claire challenged Keanu to make her his best sandwich from the ingredients on hand. He asked her what she liked and created a layered club sandwich which she declared excellent. By the time he left at 1pm, Keanu was convinced that she was an excellent choice of teacher and one he’d enjoy learning from. He could hardly wait for the next day when they were going to study cuts of meat by going to Claire’s favourite butcher.

The week progressed with a mix of hands on cooking classes and continued trips to suppliers which served to explain the importance of provenance and quality ingredients. They also worked on timings  and started to plan the stages of creating the menu Keanu had planned for Friday’s lunch.

On Thursday Keanu tried out the dauphinois potatoes and was thrilled with the result - he was really starting to enjoy cooking and his rapid growth in skill. Claire praised him warmly and suggested he try a dessert as well for the next day.

“You could try something simple like a mousse au chocolat but I think you’re ready to really wow them”

“Oh yeah?” Keanu grinned “With what?”

“A tarte Tatin”

“What!, are you sure?”

“Absolutely – you’re an excellent student - let’s do one today together, you’ll master it I’m sure”

She showed him how to prepare the sugar and butter in a special tin that could go on the stove and then in the oven to finish. They prepped the apples placing them rounded side down in the tin and proceeded to caramelise the butter and sugar until it was a gorgeous molten mahogany. Then he learned how to make the shortcrust pastry using cool hands to rub the butter into the flour then bring it together to a dough which rested in the fridge. Once rolled out, he placed it onto the cooled apples, tucking in the edges round the sides. The result when they turned the tarte out (upside down to reveal the apples) was amazing – sweet, tender apples with the sugary caramel cut a little by freshly grated lemon rind and a melt in the mouth pastry to top it off.

“See!” she smiled, “I knew you could do it”

“No, you did it!” he grinned

“Well, OK so today we both did it but tomorrow it will all be down to you”

Friday came and Keanu got to the restaurant at 8am wanting to have as much time as possible to get everything perfect.

By 11.30 the lamb was resting, his gratin and tarte were in the oven and the beans were simmering gently.

The meal was beginning with a simple salade aux lardons  - it was time to dress it with the vinaigrette he’d made earlier. He started to toss it gently but some lettuce flipped out over the side

“Watch out you don’t drop too many said Claire – unless you want lots of children’ she laughed!

“What?” Keanu asked, shooting her a quizzical look.

“it’s a saying we have in France that the number of leaves you drop when you’re tossing the salad tells you the number of kids you’ll have.

“Oh right” he chuckled, “that’s cute, but it’s way too late for that”

“What do you mean?, you’d have time to have them if you wanted, surely”

“I’m too old Claire”

“What, you must only be what?”, she paused to look at him and consider his face “…. About 45”

“Ha ha” Keanu laughed heartily.

“No, I’m fifty five”

“Merde” she exclaimed “ce n’est pas possible!”

Keanu shook his head and smiled - he loved how she reverted to French when she was reacting spontaneously to something.  

“I’m afraid it’s true, so even if I had a wife or even a girlfriend, I still think it’s too late to be having babies. I might be dead before they’re 20 or 30.

Claire’s face clouded over

“Sorry I didn’t mean to be all maudlin” he said

“Don’t worry, it’s just my mother died when I was 25 so I know that’s hard – but people die all the time, young and old.

“Ain’t that the truth” Keanu agreed quietly, remembering his own past.

“and lots of guys have babies when they’re older. Maybe you shouldn’t rule it out”

“Maybe maybe, anyway, enough serious talk, we should raise a toast before our guests arrive”

He poured himself and Claire a glass of wine.

“Here’s to satisfied customers!” she said

“and here’s to you for being such an amazing teacher – I can’t believe you’ve got me this far so fast”

“well that’s really down to you” she replied, smiling, “you work so hard and learn so quickly, it’s very impressive”

“I don’t know about that!” he said blushing, “Anyway, let’s not get ahead ourselves, I haven’t served it yet!!

They put down their glasses and Claire went to see if the guests had arrived at the table they had set aside in the restaurant. Meanwhile Keanu busied himself with finishing the salad and carving the lamb which he was happy to see was just the right shade of pink. He put it in the warming oven and also took out the tarte Tatin praying that it would be as good as the one yesterday when he turned it out later. Finally, with the main course as ready as it could be, he took the salad and some French bread through to the dining room.

The meal went down a storm - at the end Keanu stood and raised a toast to Claire

“Thank you for all your kind words folks but we really need to toast this amazing lady who has taught this old meat head some cooking skill. He took her hand and placed it over his heart

“ thank you, thank you, merci beaucoups, I’ll be forever grateful!”

Claire laughed and blushed.

“Just wait until next week when we’ll have you working in the restaurant kitchen, then you might not be such a fan!”

He laughed

“That may be!”

They said their goodbyes to Keanu’s amazed guests and went to clean down the kitchen.

“How’s your dad by the way?”

“Oh about the same apparently – no better, but no worse, he just needs to take it easy and stay off his damn bike”

“Oh, a pushbike or a motorbike?” Keanu asked, his interest peaked

“A push bike – he’s not a racer guy like you!” Claire saw Keanu pull up each day often on different bikes so she knew about his passion for them.

“everyone goes everywhere on bikes on the Ile de Re” she continued - it’s a cyclist’s paradise with cycle paths across the salt marshes and oyster beds and through the forests. But he had a heart attack last year and whilst he is supposed to exercise, he just pushes himself too much and that worries me”

“Do you have any other family there to keep an eye on him?”

“No, I’m an only child and there are no aunts or uncles either.

“Is your father still alive? She asked.

“Yeah – well at least I haven’t heard otherwise! He left my mother when I was three and I haven’t seen him since I was 13.”

“Mon dieu that must have been tough growing up without a dad”

“Yeah well I had my mum and my sister - he wouldn’t have been a good role model anyway”

“I could see today that you adore Kim and your mother”

“Yeah, yeah  I do - family and friends are my rocks to come back to  - after every project that’s what I look forward to”

“You know you’re not at all what I expected!” Claire stated.

“Oh, how so?” he asked

“Well, a couple of people I mentioned you to said they heard you were a nice guy and very polite but I guess I just expected someone more ………..starry, you know!”

Keanu burst out laughing.

“Well I’ll take that as a complement” he said

“you should – you’ve made it a very easy first week of teaching” she smiled

“Well thanks” he said the colour rising in his cheeks.

They finished up in the kitchen and Keanu took his leave saying he’d see her at 9am prompt on Monday for his week in the working kitchen.  He’d enjoyed her company so much that he’d almost asked her to dinner but held himself in check. She was so much younger than him and he knew his feelings weren’t entirely platonic. She was very cute with olive skin, beautiful eyes and a slender yet not too skinny figure – he didn’t really have a type but she hit the spot with him. He’d just have to quash those thoughts, focus on the learning and keep things on a friendly footing.

https://allie1804-fan.tumblr.com/post/625977593110364160/ile-de-re-chapter-2

[allie1804-fan]

Connecticut (Chapter 4)

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 Grace took at least an hour to finally fall asleep.  She thought back to her conversation with Sandy a couple of weeks previously when they had run into each other at The Warner’s lot.  Grace had been concerned about seeing Keanu after all this time, never having contacted him since Hannah was born.  Sandy had reassured her that he would be fine and would totally understand.  

 “Anyway” she’d added, he always had a little crush on you back in the day so I’d say he’ll be very forgiving!”

 “What?!”

 “Oh you must have known, Grace!”

 “No, I swear I didn’t – I mean I guess we were always a bit flirty with each other but.. well, I guess I looked at things differently back then being married and all. Plus, well he’s Keanu after all!”

 “Yeah I know he’s kind of special but he’s still just a man like the rest of them!”

 Sandy had encouraged Grace to be open to the possibility of something developing with Keanu yet she was still torn and unsure whether he was pleased to see her just as a friend or whether there was anything more to it. Eventually the late hour and her early start the next day forced her to empty her mind of thoughts of what may or may not happen and go to sleep.

 Keanu had an equally hard time getting to sleep , returning again and again to a couple of things Grace had said – she’d seen all his films bar 1 since “Speed”, her husband saying she should join a fan club and how she’d noticed a simple thing like his hand rubbing gesture over the years.  Were these the actions of someone with only a friendly interest in him?  

He went to sleep muttering ‘carpe diem’ to himself and trying to let go of his need to analyse everything – after all he needed head space for his character tomorrow.

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[allie1804-fan]

A Doorway Is Opened Chapter 12

Bringing this story to its conclusion with some fluff. Hope those reading enjoyed it. Feedback welcome. Allie

The morning of Dec 20th

Today was Christmas Tree Shopping day. Keanu and Hannah were sitting in bed at his house having a morning coffee. Since his return from Germany they’d been ‘going steady though they hadn’t yet moved in together. For the Christmas holidays though, she and the boys were staying over for the duration.

There was a small box on the bed that Hannah had brought over from her house. In it were the angels and stars she always hung on her Christmas tree that represented her lost babies, also 2 beautiful white satin baubles with sequins on that Hannah’s Dad had bought for her mother in the early 80s and a representation of a grandma with a rolling pin that she’d brought to remember her own mother. She talked Keanu through each one and why they were special. 

 Hannah then reached back inside the box for another ornament which was wrapped in tissue paper that Hannah passed to him.

 “and this one is for you”

 He unwrapped it carefully and inside found a beautiful stained glass bird ornament with the wings outlined by silver filigree. She had brought it for him to remember his daughter. The origin of Ava’s name was a bird so she thought it was the perfect thing for him to hang on the tree in remembrance of her.

He brought it to his lips and kissed it. Clearly overwhelmed, it took him few moments to speak

“I don’t think anyone has ever cared for me like you do” he whispered.

She smiled and kissed him gently

“I love you so much Keanu, I just wanted to share this way of remembering with you”

“and I thank you, it’s a great honour”

They hugged for a moment before getting up to start their day.

A couple of hours later, Keanu, Hannah and Josh were stood in a field at Christmas Ranch Tree Farms looking for the perfect tree.  At least 5 so far hadn’t passed muster.

“What about this one?” Keanu asked “I think it’s fixed the too tall problem and the not bushy enough problem”

Hannah pondered

“Come on Josh back me up”

Josh grinned

“Yeah come on mum, that one is perfect and if we get it, we can go and have a hot chocolate!!”

“Right” Keanu agreed

“all right, all right, you win, that’s the one”

“Yes!” Keanu and Josh chorused.

Keanu beckoned the assistant with the chainsaw and the tree was cut and taken to the wrapping area. They headed back to the barn for the promised hot chocolates.

Back at home they were preparing to decorate the tree. Hannah’s eldest, Toby. had just got back from uni that afternoon and he and Josh were sorting through the decorations over a beer in Keanu’s living room. Christmas music was playing in the background and Keanu and Hannah were in the kitchen fetching wine.  He opened a bottle of the Napa Valley wine he’d introduced Hannah to back in June.

“Remember when we first had this”

“Ah ha – I told you, you were dreamy as Paul Sutton”

“And I told you how much I loved the way you make me feel…….. still think I’m dreamy?”

“Always” she said kissing his cheek “still love how I make you feel?”

“Always” he said kissing her on the top of her head. ”Come on let’s go decorate the tree”

The boys had already started to put the decorations on the tree. Hannah went and fetched the special box from the bedroom.

She and Keanu placed the special ornaments on before the boys added strings of red and gold beads and finally Christmas lights. They turned down the house lights so they could admire the tree, its lights reflecting in the long window that faced the pool and the city lights in the valley below.

Keanu looked at the sparkling angels, the twinkling stars and his precious bird glinting in the light and gave Hannah a gentle squeeze knowing in his heart of hearts that this was going to be a Christmas to cherish.

 THE END

https://allie1804-fan.tumblr.com/post/625101123431366656/a-doorway-is-opened-chapter-11

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Parting Is such sweet sorrow

There was just over a week before Keanu was due to head home. He was browsing in the Round House Gallery on the Harbour front for gifts to take home - he’d already bought an oil painting of Tresco from there for himself, arranging for it to be shipped home.

At the counter, a flyer advertising a production of “Romeo and Juliet” being staged at the Minack theatre caught his eye – The Minack is a famed open air theatre carved into the dramatic clifftop above Porth Curno. He took a flyer back to the cottage and showed it to Kerry suggesting they get tickets.

The night arrived and, at her suggestion based on previous experience, they took a couple of cushions to sit on and a rug for their knees to guard against the cold as night fell. The weather is mild in Cornwall but it was still only late May and temperatures would drop as it’s still cool at night.

Before the start, they bought some hot Cornish pasties and a bottle of red to share. The wine came with little re-usable cups with a cute image of the theatre printed on them that they could take home afterward as a keepsake. With pasties eaten, it was time for the rug which Kerry tucked around them both and they settled down, knees pressed together, to enjoy the show. During the show, Kerry could see Keanu silently mouthing some of the lines, especially Mercutio’s - he explained during the interval that it had been one of his earliest roles, aged at 21 for the Leah Posluns Theatre in Ontario.

The show ended to rapturous applause under the spotlights and with the moonlight sparkling on the sea below it was really a breath-taking spectacle.

They lingered a little in their seats while the crowd made its way up the steps to the exit. When it had cleared a little Keanu suggested they take in the beach before heading back to Sennen. They had a little time before their taxi came which they’d booked knowing they’d be having a drink and that the Cornish roads at night did not favour a driver with even just one drink inside them!

They stood on the sand, gazing up at the cliffs and stars - Kerry was tilting her head back so much she nearly lost her balance! You could see the main constellations really clearly and it was fun to name them. Keanu was enthralled by her wonderment - she looked so beautiful gazing up at the midnight blue sky and the clifftop theatre, her face lit up by the moon. She shivered a little with the cold breeze off the sea and he took the rug from her hands and threw it around her. As he tucked it around her, they smiled at each other. Her eyes had a twinkle, one he recognised from their time in Tresco when they’d got a bit giggly drinking in the New Inn and he remembered the same look when he’d said goodnight to her after they’d got drunk in the pub at Sennen with her sister. Her guard was down and the affection she felt was clear in her eyes. He stepped closer to her, still holding the edges of the rug in each hand. A voice in his head said this was rash but he couldn’t help it. Scrunching the rug up and using it to pull her to him, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. His arms slipped around her and the kiss deepened but just as their tongues touched and he felt virtual fireworks going off in his head, she pulled away, pushing on his chest and breaking their kiss.

Swallowing thickly and clearly holding back tears, she blurted out:

“No stop, we can’t, I can’t, I’m sorry, I just can’t - you’re going home soon and this, this will make it hurt even more”

She looked down at her feet, shoulders slumped, then wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry, so sorry, I know shouldn’t have done that, it’s just, God, you’re so beautiful tonight and I feel so much for you and it all just came spilling out, you know, in the moment.”

She took his hand in hers, softly rubbing his knuckles with her thumb.

“Thank you” She sighed heavily “I feel so much for you too - just protecting my poor old heart I guess.”

He nodded, his expression as sad and wistful as hers. They were quiet on the climb back up to the car park from the beach. It was steep and a bit treacherous in the dark so she relented on one aspect of physical closeness and let him hold her hand up the path, dropping it when they got to the car park where the taxi was just pulling in. On the way back to Sennen she took the front seat and he the back. Keanu cursed himself for his impetuousness whilst also pondering that it had surely been a long time since a kiss had made him feel something so intensely. Once back in Sennen they said their goodnights with a chaste kiss on the cheek.

Keanu slept terribly, tossing and turning all night, dreaming of Kerry, of kissing her, of Kerry naked rising and falling above him, taking him inside her, her hair cascading over her shoulders. He woke with a start, grateful he hadn’t had a wet dream, then relieved his pent-up lust in his morning shower, pressing his head against the glass after he’d cum, finally letting tears of regret fall.

For the next two days, he didn’t see Kerry at all. Usually, they saw each other every day somehow or other but she was obviously avoiding him – he guessed she was taking Scout for super early walks knowing he wasn’t a naturally early riser.

On the third day and his last in Cornwall, he set an alarm for 6 AM and listened out for her leaving the house, then scrambled to get dressed and head out himself. He looked down the beach and could see she’d gone that way today so he’d be able to catch her up or meet her on the return leg of the walk. He had to apologise for the kiss.

In the end, he caught up on the outward leg as she’d stopped by the shore to let Scout run in and out of the waves and was just staring out to sea.

“Hey there!” he called.

“Hey” she said, her voice expressing her surprise.

“You’ve been avoiding me” he stated “So I set an alarm to make sure I could speak with you. Listen Kerry, about the other night. I’m so sorry, I know it was stupid and I’m sorry, the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you – I was just so caught up in the moment, the beauty of it all. The play, the moonlight, the sea and the stars.”

“I know, and I know you’d never hurt me. You’re too kind for that” she smiled but it was with sad eyes.

“And I should be saying sorry too, for sneaking around avoiding you. I’ve been a coward. And I promised myself I would stop that behaviour, you know, after the divorce. I said I’d be true to myself and honest with people and I need to stick to it.”

Up to this point Kerry had been mainly looking down, almost talking to herself but now she drew in a shaky breath and looked him in the eye.

“I could fall, no let’s face it, I am falling in love with you and I know there’s no future for us and a fling or a one nighter would be wonderful in the moment but would just be too painful in the end so that’s why I’ve avoided you! And I’m sorry for that, there I’ve said it now”

She blew out another long breath and let her shoulders droop, relieved to have said her piece.

Keanu was taken aback. Half thrilled and half devastated. Why did this have to happen now and here, over 7000 miles from his home?

“I’m falling in love with you too” he said quietly, sadly “but you’re right my life’s back there in LA. I have to go, I have commitments ……….. meetings, another location shoot. I’m sorry.”

She moved closer, took his hand and kissed it.

“Just one of those things, huh?”

He nodded and pulled her into a bear hug, she pressed her face against his heart which he knew was beating a little faster than usual.

“Come on let’s go walk it off, up on the cliffs, let the fresh air clear our heads.” he suggested.

They headed off up the beach and onto the coast path towards Lands End. They walked mostly in silence, each thinking about what was around the corner for them, each heartsore that the other wasn’t part of their futures.

“You know, I’d like to stay in touch” Kerry offered as they paused for a while on the path when Scout went scurrying off after spotting a rabbit.

“I’d like that too” he paused “but maybe not too much, too soon, you know. I guess we both need some space to let this be a friendship we cherish and not something that makes us sad.

“deal” she said sticking her hand out to shake on it.

“deal” he smiled back but like hers, his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

The next day, Keanu left for home. She came into the cottage to tell him the taxi was out front.

They shared a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“We’ll keep in touch yeah?” he said.

“Yeah but remember not too much, no mooning!”

He laughed

“I’ll have you know I’m a veteran mooner” and he turned away from her pretending he was going to do the other kind of mooning, making her laugh. At least that broke the tension and he picked up his canvas hold all and his carry-on bag and with that, he was gone.

@fortheloveoffanfic@ladyreapermc@paperplanesandwallflowers@toomanystoriessolittletime@omg-imagine@fics-not-tragedies@ficsnroses@keanureevesisbae

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11 Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Warnings: Explicit Content, Oral sex (female receiving) Straight sex

Holiday Vibe

Their meal at Hell Bay was wonderful – delicious food and a romantic setting - he had asked for a table by the window when he booked and they looked down at the harbour’s twinkling lights, holding hands underneath the table in between courses and stealing kisses every now and then.

In the small hours of the following morning, Kerry woke to find she’d rolled over onto her back, her arm stretched out above her head and the covers thrown aside due to the warmth of their bodies. When she opened her eyes, she found Keanu was awake too, lying there appreciating her sleeping form. He started to trace patterns across her chest just above the swell of her breasts. She could feel him hardening against her leg and giggled

“Hello Mr Horny”

“Can’t help it, you’re so gorgeous, takes my breath away”

Kerry blushed. His ministrations became more intense then, rolling her nipples between his fingers till they became hard buds before he changed tack and started to kiss down her body, finding her dripping for him. He licked up her slit then probed her entrance with a pointed tongue making her cry out. He was relentless, moaning and praising her sweet taste as he reeled her in like a fisherman bringing in the catch. He knew just when to ease off the speed of his tongue, flicking over the bud of her clitoris and just when to engulf her pussy with his mouth and suck. Kerry’s hips began to undulate as she neared her peak. He rolled with it, holding her up to his face as she started to cry out again.

“Oh God ….yes……Ke……yes please, please…”

He felt her clit grow huge and hard under his lips, flicked fast with his tongue then simply sucked as she screamed in delight. He was rewarded with a cascade of juices in his mouth and all over his chin and he moaned into her pussy, sharing her delight as she panted hard, arm flung out across the pillow in exhaustion. He lay for a moment, his face against her belly looking up at her as she slowly came to. Then he crawled up, giggling

“My, you were loud!”

She giggled back “We probably woke the room next door, it’ll be in tomorrow’s gossip columns!”

“hee hee” well I guess I don’t mind that reputation! But seriously, remind me to get some extra insulation at home!”

She punched him on the arm

“You’re fault, you shouldn’t be so good”

“Why thank you”

“What about you?” she said reaching over and stroking his semi-hard cock.

He looked across and she could see he was blushing a little

“What?”

“Would you ride me? I’ve dreamed of that, of your hair tickling my face, of your breasts dangling above me”, he growled low in his throat at the thought and leaned over to grab a condom from the draw, quickly dealing with putting it on.

Kerry was swiftly astride him and, with his cock now standing to attention, she sank down onto it, relishing how it filled her and rubbed over her g spot in this position. She rode him tantalizingly slowly at first then faster as she felt him encouraging her with an upward thrust of his hips. By the end she was slamming down on him, hard and fast, her back arching backward as she came, moaning low in her throat. The site of her coming spurred him on to his end too and she fell down into his arms, nuzzling his neck and sighing in contented exhaustion.

Their mini-holiday continued in much the same vein. They cycled to Pentle Bay where they spent the afternoon paddling and lying in the sun reading or chatting

Then they headed to the Ruin Bay café a short cycle away to enjoy pizzas cooked in a woodfired oven.

And they did more boat trips to see either the other islands or wildlife.

At every opportunity Keanu would hug and kiss her, not caring if anyone was watching as they stargazed or enjoyed a sunset together. It was like a honeymoon and each night ended in each other’s arms.

On the last morning, they ordered breakfast in bed and lounged around relaxing, knowing they would have to pack up soon. He wore just a pair of lounge pants and she one of his shirts and nothing else which he found quite distracting!

There was a soft wind blowing in from the balcony, moving the blue and white curtains gently. The wind direction had turned more southerly bringing an Indian summer to the islands. Keanu sat in a small armchair after their breakfast and encouraged her to come and sit on his knee.

He started kissing her neck then moved to the tops of her breasts, slowly unbuttoning his shirt to release them and take them each in turn in his mouth, using his tongue to flick her nipples to hardness. He moaned and moved back up to her lips, devouring her in a hungry kiss. She could feel him hardening beneath her and wiggled against him making him groan louder. She slipped off his knee still kissing him and encouraged him to lift his hips so she could slip off his lounge pants. Then she got a condom and rolled it on before she slowly lowered herself onto his waiting hard-on. They both sighed as the pleasure engulfed them and his hands smoothed over the globes of her ass

“Mmmmm you’re so soft so beautiful”

Kerry let out a loud gasp as she leaned back a little and he thrust his hips up, the new position allowing deeper penetration. He knew her body so well now that he knew he wasn’t hurting her. She smiled at him as he thrust up with his hips over and over as she moved down meeting him stroke for stroke. Her hands gripped his shoulders, pressing with her fingertips, leaving marks they would discover later.

“Oh god, oh god” she started an incantation, feeling the pleasure unfurl.

“God, I can feel you coming all around me, it’s beautiful so good, so ohh ohhh”

She slammed down again, screaming his name as her pussy spasmed around him, gripping and releasing, juices dripping onto his thighs. She carried on moving until his moans turned to loud grunts as his orgasm drained him. Their movements gradually slowed and he kissed her lovingly. They rested then, foreheads pressed together, catching their breath.

“I love you Kerry, so so much”

“I love you too Keanu”

END OF PART 1

@fortheloveoffanfic @omg-imagine @iworshipkeanureeves @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @paperplanesandwallflowers @patric9

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa

chapter 1, Chapter 2

Warnings: mentions of baby loss

Chapter 3

Getting to Know You

With wet coats hanging up and steaming hot chocolates in hand, they settled into a nook not far from the fire where Scout lay contented by its warmth.

After a sip of the milky goodness, Kerry teased him:

“So if you’re Canadian, how come you’re always commenting on the cold and damp here?”

“It’s a fair point “ he agreed grinning at her teasing “but I’ve been in LA over 30 years. I have no tolerance for cold anymore!” What about you, did you grow up here?”

“Well in England, yes but not here here if that’s what you mean. My parents loved Cornwall, we holidayed here for years and I even got my name from here”

“Kerry? I thought it was an Irish name”

“It’s not that kind of Kerry - Kerry is short for Kerensa”

“And that is?”

“Cornish for ‘love’”

“Awww that’s cute”

Kerry felt the heat rise up her face

“What can I say? My parents were a pair of hopeless romantics!” she shrugged.

Keanu chuckled. He knew how this conversation could go if he didn’t watch it, so he took another sip of his drink to give himself thinking time. He segued away from the subject of romance.

“So how long have you lived here?”

“About 3 years, when both of my parents had passed and after my divorce, I had enough money to invest in a property down here. I needed a fresh start but also something comforting and familiar you know? Here seemed the perfect place so I left my job and headed down. The cottage rental is my main income and I do some freelance copywriting to tide myself over and I’m working on some short stories but I’ve yet to get anything published.”

“Wow a writer, maybe you could give me some tips” he quipped

“I don’t think writing ads for chocolate bars is really training for screenwriting! Or are you writing a novel or a play”

“No it is a screenplay”

Just then, Keanu’s stomach made a loud rumble making him giggle and cover his mouth, embarrassed.

“I guess it’s lunchtime huh? I think I’m going to eat here. I love their fish finger sandwich. Care to join me?”

“You sure? I feel like I’ve hijacked your peaceful morning”

“Not at all, it’s been nice to get to know you a little bit”

Kerry went to the bar placing the order for 2 of their fish-finger sandwiches. That was a bit of a misnomer really as they weren’t your standard breadcrumbed fish sticks in flat white bread but rather tender Cod goujons in a light beer batter served in a crusty home baked roll with homemade tartar sauce and chunky triple cooked chips.

After a few bites, they picked up the conversation from before.

“So, you were divorced 3 years ago then? Or did it take you longer to execute your exit plan?”

About 3 and a half years now. Things had been unraveling for a while so my plan was underway for about a year before I got here.”

“No children?”

She shook her head, a shadow passed over her expression.

“That’s good”

Her expression turned stricken.

“Gosh sorry, I meant good that there weren’t kids to be hurt by the divorce, not good that you don’t have them!”

“No it’s ok, it’s just a touchy subject. It’s why we split up basically”

Keanu tilted his head, encouraging her to continue.

Kerry took another bite of her sandwich, taking a moment to decide what to share.

“We both wanted a family, very much, but it just never worked out. I had a couple of miscarriages then nothing, for a couple of years. When we got checked out, they couldn’t find a problem but they recommended we try IVF or adopt, and turns out he didn’t want a family with me enough to go through any of that!”

“I’m so sorry”

Kerry could see the sincerity in his warm brown eyes and threw him a sad half-smile.

“Thanks. You know, it’s odd, obviously it hurts that it’s unlikely now that I’ll ever have kids, but what hurt the most is not that, nor losing the relationship but that I so badly misjudged who he was as a person. It’s like my “good person” radar failed me so badly!”

Keanu chuckled with recognition.

“Been there, got the t-shirt! It really sucks huh? I had a completely different situation with a friend but it also left me reeling – they turned out not to be who I thought they were, not at all.”

“Oh, what happened?”

“Well I helped him out with funding for a project, then he forged my signature on a contract and I ended up having to make a movie I hated just when I should have been somewhere else.”

“That sucks. What was the film?”

“Eugh” Keanu made a guttural noise “The Watcher”, I played a serial killer and it was just bad!”

Kerry laughed

“Sort of against type I guess”

“Nah, nah it wasn’t playing a bad guy I had a problem with, it was just a shitty script and a shitty project full stop”

“And where should you have been?”

“What?”

“You said before, you were forced to do the film when you should have been somewhere else?”

“Oh yeah, yeah, right”

Keanu’s voice had got quieter with each word.

Seeing his hesitation, Kerry assured him “no need to share, looks like a bad memory”

“No, you shared your painful memories with me, I can too.” He sighed sadly. I should have been with my girlfriend at the time. She was pregnant, 8 months along and I was away filming that shitty film in New York. She went for her last scan and there was no heartbeat. She called me” he paused, remembering “God she was screaming and wailing down the phone for me to come home”

“And you couldn’t?”

“No, of course I did, I dropped everything and went home, that’s not what I meant, it’s just that I’ll just always wonder, if I’d been there before….. then things might have been different …..”

Kerry reached over and squeezed his hand. She hoped she wasn’t overstepping but it seemed the only response to such a revelation.

“Did you have a son or a daughter?”

“A daughter, Ava. She’d be 22 now.”

“I’m so sorry”

“I’m sorry, for you too, for your lost babies. Do you know what you were having?”

“No, they were early miscarriages, at about 10 weeks.”

“Still enough time for hope to bloom right?”

Kerry nodded

“Not many people get that, especially not someone who’s experienced such a different level of loss”

“I have enough friends who’ve been through a miscarriage to know there’s a lot of commonality.”

They both sighed and drew in a shaky breath then giggled at their mirrored actions.

“I feel like we deserve the naughtiest dessert on the menu after sharing all those sad memories!” Keanu offered in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Oh I couldn’t manage a whole one”

“We’ll share one then, what do you fancy ?” he asked looking towards the menu board. “What’s the most trad thing we can get?”

“Gotta be the sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream Ice cream hasn’t it?”

“Let’s go for it”

That decided, they finished their lunch off in a lighter mood with the delicious pudding to share, then walked up the hill to the house and cottage slowly in light of their full stomachs!

@fortheloveoffanfic@ladyreapermc@paperplanesandwallflowers@toomanystoriessolittletime@omg-imagine@fics-not-tragedies@ficsnroses@keanureevesisbae

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Mooning

All Keanu could think about on his journey was Kerry. Leaving her felt like it gave him physical pain and he was reminded of the description in Jane Eyre of a cord of communion between Jane and Rochester that might snap but never does despite their distance and time apart.

"I sometimes have this queer feeling with regard to you -- especially when you are near to me, as now: it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in the corresponding quarter of your little frame, And if that boisterous Channel, and two hundred miles or so of land, come broad between us, I am afraid that cord of communion will be snapped; and then I’ve a nervous notion I should take to bleeding inwardly.”

Once back at home, for the first month he was at least busy with some press interviews for the movie he’d shot before the Cornish one. He’d be off promoting it in September – an in-person tour this time after the many done via zoom in Covid times. He also had meetings for new work offers, about his screenplay which he had completed in Cornwall and for Arch Motorcycles. And he caught up with friends and family who he’d not seen since before the Cornish shoot had started back in February.

4 weeks later, he still hadn’t messaged Kerry other than to say he was back safely, keeping to the promise, to her at least, not to moon but it was another thing when it came to talking about his stay in Cornwall with friends and family. Kerry’s kindness, Kerry’s critical skills, Kerry’s own brilliant writing was never far from being mentioned. Alex Winter was the first to call him on it and point out his clearly lovesick state!

He’d shared his script with him and there were annotations on it in an unknown hand.

“Yeah that’s Kerry’s pointers, did I mention her?”

“Uh, yeah! – you barely talk about anything else Ke!”

“What? – I do so”

“God, Keanu, how old are you?”

“57” he huffed.

“Yeah and that my friend is quite old enough to know when you’re in love, not to mention old enough to do something about it!”

“And what precisely do you recommend, given she lives 7000 miles away?” Keanu asked sulkily, not denying that he was indeed in love.

“err, hey, what about talking through your options, asking her how she feels, thinking of ways to make it work if she’s on board?”

“I don’t know, when I kissed her …”

“you kissed her?!”

“Uh yeah” he huffed “I just got caught up in the moment and so did she and then she said to stop because it was gonna hurt too much. She basically implied she couldn’t move and I couldn’t move so that was that”

“But you never asked what if or talked about a compromise, you just left?”

“Yeah god-damnit, I just left and we said we’d stay friends”

“But you’re still mooning after her, right?”

Keanu swallowed thickly and nodded, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

“God I’m a dumbass aren’t I?, I feel something I’ve not felt in years and I just wave the white flag and walk away”

“You said it!”

The conversation stewed in Keanu’s mind over the next couple of weeks until he had a meeting with his PA to discuss travel arrangements for his next film’s promotion in September. The UK was the last stop of the tour and a plan started to formulate in his mind. By the end of July, he chanced sending a message to Kerry, just to touch base. He had thought about just doing a surprise visit when he got there but decided not to ambush her and tested the water in a message first.

“Hey, how are you? Everyone here said they could see your Cornish sea air did me some good when I got back.”

She messaged back shortly after saying she was well and glad they could see how great Cornwall was.

After that, they would message every few days, just little things usually, often about his script and she also sent a copy of her latest short story that was being reviewed by a publisher. Then by late August, with the premiere approaching, he got specific.

“Love your latest story, how’s the publishing prospects looking? Maybe you can fill me in person when I’m over for the premiere – I’ll be there in 2 weeks?”

He was nervous about taking a chance by suggesting a meeting, but he told himself he needed to see it through and if it turned out she could only consider him as a friend, then at least he could try to move on, not be stuck in a limbo of love as he was now.

She messaged right back, even though it was already midnight there

“What you’re coming over?, that’s great”

“Yes – for the premiere of my new film. I’ll be staying over for a few days in London to do that and a couple of talk shows.”

“Oh sorry, I’m in town next week but not then – I have to be here for a cottage letting, sorry to miss an opportunity to meet up”

“I could come to you? Would that be ok?”

“But it’s so far out of your way”

“Yeah but I have time, no commitments back home for a while. So would it be ok, to visit?, I’d love to see you and my buddy Scout, how’s he?”

“Great, he’s great - still full of beans. He’ll be pleased to see you”

“Hey what do you do with him when you’re out of town?”

“John has him, remember him? from the hotel?”

“Of course”

“Right – well OK, I’ll make the arrangements and be there on Friday 9th."

After that exchange, the seed of another idea grew in his mind. He made contact with John and asked him if he might be available to have Scout for some extended dog sitting, a week maybe and then he contacted the airline and the New Inn in Tresco, praying that he wasn’t going to end up there alone.

@fortheloveoffanfic @omg-imagine @iworshipkeanureeves @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @paperplanesandwallflowers @patric9

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Tresco take 2

By noon, they were walking hand in hand along the New Grimsby beach at Tresco. The sun was warm but the breeze cooler than back in May so they wore light fleeces to protect them from the chill of the wind. They found themselves a comfortable flat-topped rock to sit on.

“I love this place, thank you for bringing me back”

“The pleasure is all mine. We should make it our special place, you know where we’ll always come to reconnect and recharge.”

“Mmmm” Kerry agreed.

“Talking of the future, are you going to share your thoughts - you implied you had some. What else happened in your fantasies after option c came true?”

“Well, gosh, mmmm, I guess I hoped we’d try out errr somehow living together for a while, here or there.” He waved his hand in the direction of the Americas. “Maybe eventually we can split our time somehow, so neither of us has to abandon friends and family altogether - you’d want to see your sister and her family right? And the gang in Sennen, other friends in London? What do you think?”

“Can you do your work from here then? What about, I dunno, casting, schmoozing, auditions, do you even do auditions?”

Keanu laughed

“I try to steer clear of schmoozing and, not to be too big-headed, but I don’t really audition anymore. At a certain point, names are floated alongside projects and meetings are held but we know they can be done virtually now so, yeah I can still work from here. I do have to travel though, obviously for some shoots and some promo work, you know. What about you?”

“Well I can work anywhere too, for the writing – there’s just the cottage stuff I’d need to sort – but I guess I can get a letting agent to deal with the cottage if I’m not around all the time. It would just reduce my income a bit but the publishing deal will help”

“let’s just get one thing completely clear. You don’t have to worry about money, never, not at all. I could live for a few centuries off what I’ve made, it’s ridiculous so, like I said before, I can’t take it with me so any expenses that you need covering, especially if they are related to being with me, well I’ll cover them. OK?”

“I don’t want to be a kept woman”

“It’s not about that, it’s just me caring about you, supporting you, making sure you’re not out of pocket because of me, OK?”

“OK” she acquiesced leaning in to give him a kiss “thank you”

“So where shall we start this try out at living together? Maybe I should stay here a while, give you a chance to sort out the cottage, your publishing deal and then maybe, when it gets really cold”, he smirked remembering how she ribbed him about not liking the cold, “I can take you to LA for a while”

“ha ha – I guessed that was coming! But seriously it does sound like a plan that could work – unless we hate living together and I miss out on a trip to LA coz you dump me” she teased.

“I came back 7000 miles to win you, I’m not giving up that easily” he retorted, laughing. “come on let’s go back and get lunch and then we can go to the abbey”

After a quick bite at the New Inn, they collected the rental push bikes they had decided to use for their stay to make getting around quicker and more fun, then they headed over to the abbey.

Here they strolled round again, but this time arm in arm, no more longing to do so but not daring. At the first lookout point over the bay, he got her to stop and turn and then stood behind her.

“Now this is one of the things I was itching to do back in May” he explained before wrapping his arms around her middle, and resting his chin on her shoulder then nuzzling her neck.

“I knew you’d smell good” he whispered

“Hey that’s a line from one of your films”

He chuckled. “Yeah, a romantic one huh?”

“Poor old Julian, passed over for Harry!”

“How do you know the lines so well anyway?” he probed

“It’s my guilty secret – when you left I tried so hard to avoid anything to do with you”

“Ooh that hurts!”

“I was trying, you know, to deal with the situation!” she protested. “The way we left it, I thought I’d probably never see you again and then when you started messaging, I just gave up pretending to myself. And it’s one of my favourite films anyway so, I just, errr, let us just say, I overindulged in it recently!”

Keanu gave her shoulder a squeeze.

“Come on my lovely rom com fan, let’s head back. We have a little time to kill before the supper boat. Maybe I can try out some more of my lines on you?” Kerry giggled and squeezed his hand, colour rising in her cheeks as she thought about what was to come. Later they’d be taking what was known as a supper boat over to Brhyer Island and the 3 star Hell Bay Hotel Restaurant. The boats were laid on to make it easy for tourists to travel between the many tiny islands and thus enjoy the different pubs, cafes and restaurants they had to offer. But that was a couple of hours away yet, giving them time to follow through with their plan to take their relationship to the next level of intimacy on Tresco island.

@fortheloveoffanfic @omg-imagine @iworshipkeanureeves @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @paperplanesandwallflowers @patric9

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9,

Chapter 10

Reunion

8th September. Kerry looked at her phone again, reading through the last message from him. He’d be here tomorrow. Ever since he’d started messaging, she’d hoped she might be able to see him again, maybe they could talk again about their feelings. She knew now that she loved him, that she couldn’t just be friends, it was pointless denying it but maybe he’d moved on. But he was coming all the way to Cornwall to see her, that had to be a good sign right?

“Come on Scout, walkies – I have got to get some fresh air through my brain!”

She did her best to keep occupied as she waited. Luckily she had the cottage to clean on Friday morning for a couple who had booked it for a long weekend. That meant she could put all her fears into energetic scrubbing, polishing and vacuuming while the hours counted down.

She had just sat down with a cup of coffee in her kitchen when he appeared at the open door.

“hey” he said tentatively

Her face broke into a wide grin which he matched.

“Come ’ere”

She went to him, a little cautiously, still wondering how this was all going to play out. To her delight, he gave her the biggest bear hug, whispering into her hair

“boy did I miss you!”

“Me too”

He let her go and they just stood for a few moments, smiling and drinking each other in.

“Pub and a fish finger sandwich?” Kerry volunteered.

“Yeah that sounds just the ticket”

They walked down to the harbour and got a table outside in the late summer sun.

Over lunch she caught him up on her publishing news – she finally had a deal and was currently working with an editor to select the stories that would go in her first collection. Then she also had a novel idea so she was excited to be pushing on with her writing ambitions finally.

He told her about his latest projects and what he’d been doing in London.

“So I saw Cariad yesterday ......” he said, a secret smile on his face at having this surprise to share with her.

“Oh my god, you did it? The Griefcast?”

He nodded

“Yup and you were right, it WAS good for my soul. It won’t be out for a while but I’ll give you the heads up. I guess you’re subscribed anyways right?”

She nodded, taking another bite of her sandwich.

“Wow, I’m so pleased you did it. So it was OK right? Not too painful?”

“I did almost lose it, quite early on, but then we got into it and, it felt, errr, really good to remember them both and tell someone else about them. I hadn’t expected that. Cheryl thought I’d gone off my rocker when I told her I was doing it!” he chuckled at the memory.

Kerry laughed “I bet she thought you’d been taken over by aliens or something”

“Pretty much!”

They chatted on, the conversation light and factual, then with lunch done, they settled the bill.

“Do you want to go down to the beach?” she asked

“Err, no can we just head back to yours? I’d like to talk to you, somewhere private”

“Oh, OK”

As they walked up the hill, he dared to take her hand in his. She looked down at their intertwined hands then back up at him, a small smile on her lips.

Back at the house, she poured them each some ice tea and they went outside to her courtyard and settled in her swing seat.

“So” Keanu began

“So?” she queried

“So, I wanted to tell you a bit more about when I went home, not just what I’ve been doing but how I’ve been feeling”

Kerry swallowed hard, wondering where he was headed with this line of conversation.

He took her hands in his and held her gaze.

“You see, the thing is, uh, the minute I was heading home back in June, I wanted to turn around. I wished we hadn’t left it, left us as a lost cause. I wished that we’d found a way to be together. And once I was home, my friends all said I was like a lovesick puppy! They told me to get my sorry ass back down here and tell you, sweep you off your feet, whisk you away but I don’t know if it’s just me who feels this way I don’t know what you want. I mean, I’d move here in a heartbeat if that’s the only way to be with you! Is there Hope Kerry? My beautiful Sweet Kerensa, please say there is!”

His eyes were soft and pleading, not to mention glassy with unshed tears. Kerry stifled a sob and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face there, breathing him in. His arms came around her and held her tight but she still hadn’t said anything and his heart fluttered with worry.

Even when he pulled back to look questioningly in her eyes, she didn’t declare her feelings but rather stood up and said “wait there”

She was back quickly, holding something made of dark grey fabric. She sat down next to him again on the swing seat and handed it to him.

“This is yours”

He shook it out, revealing a grey Arch Motorcycles T-shirt.

“I found it balled up under the bed after you left. I’ve washed it, but only yesterday. Before that, I was sleeping with it every night breathing in your scent and wishing so hard we hadn’t left it the way we did. So yes, Keanu, there is hope. I’ve missed you so much - I fell in love with you back in May and I do want to be with you. I just don’t quite know how we’ll make it work but I know I want to”

He silenced her then with a kiss - only this time no one had to stop just as the fireworks started - their tongues danced together and he moaned, pulling her tight against him, hungrily drinking her in. Eventually, he pulled back smiling broadly then giving her contented little pecks on her lips, cheeks and forehead.

“So” she asked “what do we do? Have you thought about what you want, what might work? How we can do this?” she gestured between them.

“Well, you know, before I came, I kind of played out the different scenarios in my head, you know a) I declare my love for you and you say “sorry but I realised after you left it was just infatuation” or b) before I even declare myself, you introduce me to your new boyfriend” Kerry snorted at that

“as if”

“or finally c) that it would be ok and the feelings would be mutual” she gave his hand a squeeze at that.

“So when I let myself run with option c) I imagined that we’d go back to Tresco, where I really started to fall for you and what I imagined is talking there, you know, about how we make it work and, more importantly, actually doing all the things I dreamed of doing with you when we were there before.”

“Like?”

“Like holding your hand, like putting my arms around you, like kissing you, like making love with you……”

Kerry blushed, hiding her face against his chest “so before I came I made some arrangements, you know, living in hope”

“You did?”

“Uh huh, so I hope this is ok”

“So tell me”

“Well I spoke to John, and he’s going to look after Scout for a few days and sort out the cottage after the weekenders go, and tomorrow at 11 we’re flying out to St Mary’s (I decided not to put you through helicopter hell this time!) and then we’re going back to the New Inn only this time I’ll be free, I trust, to show you what I wanted to do so often when we were there in May. Is it OK?”

Kerry looked up and into his eyes, a warm smile playing on her lips. She held her hand against his cheek

“Yes Keanu, it’s very, very OK.”

Then she kissed him softly slipping her arms up around his neck They kissed for a while before she pulled away “How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?”

“I feel the same”

Later they walked Scout along the beach and had an ice cream then went home to pack their things ready for the morning and have a light supper. By 10pm, Keanu was yawning.

“You’re probably still jet-lagged aren’t you?”

“A tad maybe. Uhm, where shall I sleep?”

“Err would you sleep with me? Just sleep I mean.” Kerry rushed to clarify “It’s not that I don’t want you but, err after your speech about Tresco, I really want our first time to be there. Is that silly?”

“No, not silly at all. I want that too”

“wow a man who’s prepared to wait!”

“I’m an old man remember, not a horny teenager, well I am horny, just looking at you makes me horny. “ Kerry giggled.

“But I still want to wait”

“Well ok then, glad we’re on the same page”

They locked up and went to her room where they were both proud to say they just slept, Keanu spooning behind her, his hand gently cupping her breast through her pjs.

Kerry woke at 8, feeling Keanu’s warm breath on her neck. She wanted to pinch herself. When he’d said he was coming, she had felt some hope but how things had unfolded was beyond her wildest dreams. She started to move, then felt his grip tighten and a low moan rumble against her before he planted a soft kiss on her neck then whispered:

“don’t go, you’re so lovely and warm”

“I have to shower and dry my hair and we’re leaving in not much more than an hour”

“Ok, just 5 minutes more then I’ll take Scout round to John. Is the food still in the utility room?” (Keanu had looked after Scout himself once when Kerry had a meeting in London whilst he was renting the cottage.)

“Yup”

Kerry turned in his arms and gave him a kiss

“I’m so glad you’re here”

“Me too” he grinned and kissed her back before throwing back the covers to get on with their trip preparations.

@fortheloveoffanfic @omg-imagine @iworshipkeanureeves @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @paperplanesandwallflowers @patric9

[allie1804-fan]

Malaise (Chapter 1 - Calling Tara)

Warnings: Mentions of escort services and sexual acts

Notes  - I wanted to try and write something that I imagine might be a bit closer to the real experience of Keanu than my stories with romance and babies etc. Not completely sure where it’s going just yet but thought I would put out my first 2 chapters and see what people think.

Keanu stared at the phone in his hand again, thumb poised over the green phone symbol. He didn’t quite know why he was hesitating.  He had found himself unable to make even the simplest of decisions with any speed lately. His hand drifted down to his groin where he rubbed himself absent-mindedly. He took a deep breath and tapped “call”.

 “Codename please” the robot voice said

 “KCR”

 “please type in your pin”

He punched in 090264 wondering once again if he should really try to cover his tracks with things like this but nothing had leaked in the 10 years+ of using the agency . They were discrete and the system was designed to shield the calls by using the pin system and he was careful with his phone, never giving details to strangers. Heaven forbid if his number got out to hackers and they figured out that he made fairly regular calls to an elite escort agency!

Once through to a human being at their end, he asked for Tara who was his regular. He needed sex and as soon as she was available.  He specified “the usual” and put the phone down, going out to sit by the pool and have a smoke as distraction from his horniness.

He’d  tried a couple of his “friends with benefits” before calling the agency but they were out of town and he didn’t want to call Autumn, she was too needy for how he was feeling right now. There was history there of an on and off relationship in the early 90s that had been one of the ones that proved to him that he wasn’t cut out for commitment. She couldn’t deal with his regular absences to shoot films and he couldn’t stay faithful for that long either. Still, even now, they’d  end up in bed together sometimes, but he knew she still wanted more, more than he could give so it wasn’t fair to her. Back in the day she’d been more wild and bohemian, more aligned with his view that sex was just sex and you could enjoy it with or without the emotional baggage.  And she’d been willing to let him try things in his younger days like anal sex and a bit of BDSM - she liked to be dominated. Neither of those things were really his bag now but he’d been on a journey  of sexual discovery back when they started adding sex into the mix and she’d been a willing traveller.

He’d been in London a couple of weeks back and met up for dinner with an actor /writer friend Doraly – she wasn’t seeing anyone just now either and they both needed release so they’d gone back to her flat afterwards and fucked. That had been the last time and now he was antsy.

He got a text from the agency about 15 minutes after placing the call. Tara could come tomorrow. With Tara, part of the deal was to share some conversation and food first, basically a bit of a fake date night. The irony wasn’t lost on him that he wanted to have the trappings of a date as part of the sex he was buying! He dropped her a text to ask what she fancied  -  she chose dim sum and wan tons - she knew him well enough to choose something he liked too.

Later when he went to bed, he jerked off not wanting to come too quickly the next day. He thought about Tara as he pulled on his cock, imagining her fragrant thighs astride his head. That was always the first part of ‘the usual’  - she had the most delicious pussy and he would always feast on that first before straight sex of some kind. He wasn’t required to specify positions for that, only if there was anything they classified as kinky or out of the ordinary.

The next day, he went for a long ride up PCH to clear his head and kill some time.  Tara was due to his house at 6.30 and the dim sum at 7. He’d got a fine bottle of Chablis, her favourite white and he was looking forward to catching up with her. She was always interested in his work and she enjoyed theatre, movies and books so there was always something interesting to talk about. Best of all, there were no demands. He only had to give what he was willing to and mostly that was wanting to be sure she had at least one orgasm – he derived at least some of his satisfaction from that as well as the obvious appreciation she had for his body. There was no need to keep her at an emotional distance because she didn’t ask for emotional closeness from him, not beyond the session that is. She was good at the whole date night scenario as long as it lasted though and that’s what he wanted tonight.

With the other women in his life, barriers were put up. Sometimes that was in quite a formal way so if he was with someone new, he’d make clear he wasn’t able to commit to a long term or monogamous relationship. He’d usually blame this on work and of course that was a major practical factor, but a voice inside told him there were probably other things in his personality or life experience that prevented him from wanting a long term relationship. He valued his time alone as well – not just the time to pursue his career and help run the Arch business. He wanted to be able to spend a day reading or playing chess against the computer or simply taking off on his bike or to the beach without anyone being pissed off about it.

The other barriers to closeness he put up were more subtle. He was always very guarded about sharing personal information beyond what he liked in the arts and what food he liked, he would avoid introducing women to other friends or family and would rarely go out with them in public, ostensibly to protect them from publicity.

In his younger days, he simply had not been ready to commit to one person and the practical issue of going away so often for filming or publicity had made that impossible too in combination with his healthy appetite for sex - he wasn’t able to go without for that long. Then as he’d got older and more famous, meeting someone who was really interested in him as a person,  not as a meal ticket or a connection to exploit, became increasingly difficult and led him to put up barriers. And then there had been Jen and Ava, a terrible situation filled with loss and angst that had finally closed the door, he was pretty sure, for good. In truth, he hadn’t gone into that relationship with monogamy or kids in mind either, it had been thrust upon him but he had loved her and the loss of both the baby and then her left him feeling like him being in a relationship was a curse that he should not inflict on anyone.

He thought about all this on the ride. He knew his physical needs could not be met without ‘work’ (at maintaining a relationship or multiple ‘special’ friendships) or resorting to calling on Tara or one of the other escorts when she wasn’t free. That need for sex was one of the reasons he had 2 or 3 friends with benefits on a kind of rotation and why he sometimes, against his better judgement usually, embarked on a fling with a fellow cast member, or occasionally there would be a random meeting in everyday life like Anita who had worked as a PA to his mother for a while. Those flings could sometimes be quite passionate for a month or so, sometimes longer and he knew his instincts for generosity and chivalry could sometimes war against those proclamations of not wanting commitment. That had caused some fiery endings  such as with Lynne Collins. He’d even been quite public with her, eating out, shopping, flying up to New York to see her in “As you Like it” and attend the after party as her date – all signals, along with the good loving he always tried to give his ladies, that suggested he hadn’t really meant it about not committing – but he had and she sure did not like it, dropping him like a hot potato when he made that abundantly clear. That wasn’t an unusual pattern in terms of how women eventually responded to his lack of commitment. He was always clear about his position up front, but it didn’t always put off the women who did want something longer term. They probably thought they could change him and those behavioural mixed signals no doubt kept them thinking they would be the one to break him! Eventually though, they would lose interest and the cycle would start again.

He loved sex and exploring women’s bodies, getting to know them – that’s one reason he kept going back to the same friends and escorts. The flings came in for the thrill of the new he guessed, it wasn’t that he was looking for ‘the one’, at least he didn’t think so.  With a few women in the past there had been a real connection and intimacy that had been monogamous for a time but that was a long ago now.

He returned from his ride at around 4 giving him time for a shower, a nap and putting fresh sheets on the bed before Tara arrived in her cab.  He hadn’t seen her for a few months having been away on a shoot  - as she stepped out of the car and came up the drive, he saw she was as slender,  beautiful and well turned out as ever. She was tall with long, wavy chestnut hair and in keeping with his taste, quite large breasts – all natural too, another preference. He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and invited her in.

@penwieldingdreamer @fortheloveoffanfic @kindainlovewithkeanu @ladyreapermc @witty-wallflower @gatsbynouvel @bitchyslut99 @keanureevesisbae @omg-imagine @iworshipkeanureeves @fics-not-tragedies @ficsnroses @kindainlovewithkeanu @paperplanesandwallflowers

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa Part 2

This is a continuation of Kerensa Part 1 which you can find here

Kerensa (Part 1)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13

Kerensa (Part 2)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3

Chapter 4 California Routine

Warnings: Some explicit content

Keanu had a script and an animated film voice-over going on through January and was usually gone the whole day. Kerry would start the day with some laps of the pool, do writing then walk Scout if she could quickly but she soon got put off by the frequency of being spotted by a “homes of the stars” tour bus. She ended up doing walks early and late then staying home all day. It reminded her a bit of working during Covid, only without the constant Teams meetings and it wasn’t long before the loneliness kicked in.

It was on one such lonely day that her mood was made worse by a FaceTime call coming in from her sister.

Rosie was quick to see the sadness in her sister’s expression and pushed to find out more. Kerry confessed that LA was beginning to make her feel trapped - not being able to just go for a walk out of your door like at home without being on a dangerous road or too hot or hassled by paparazzi or tourists really sucked. What she didn’t mention was that she also got her period that day. She didn’t want to tell anyone they were trying and it had only been 3 months so no time at all, but that didn’t stop her from quitting writing early and going to bed for a good cry.

The next day things weren’t much better and she was desperately craving company and fresh air by the time Keanu got home.

“Can’t we just order in” Keanu groaned when she suggested they head down to the beach and find somewhere they could eat out then take Scout for his walk.

“Please, I just need to get out of this place”? Her disparaging tone about his home wound him up.

“What this awful place in the Hollywood Hills, with a pool and privacy ….”

“Sorry I know, it’s just, I need to feel the breeze, have some open space, you know. I’ve been going stir crazy today and I’m on my period ….. again.”

“Come ‘ere” he soothed immediately. He knew she was on her period, but they had a pact not to talk about it so their trying for a baby wouldn’t become an obsession if at all possible.

He held her for a few moments.

“I’m sorry I’m just tired but we can go out, anything to make you feel better”

They did go out and the walk in the sea breeze really helped her feel better. They talked about what was coming up for them and there was a possible trip to look forward to which would give Kerry a change of scene.

Keanu had some location work in San Francisco in mid-February. He suggested they both go and he’d look into staying somewhere close to the sea if they could rather than a hotel in the city.

The production team found them a house close to the beach and they took a couple of days off to take a leisurely drive up with Scout, taking the PCH and Big Sur route. Kerry could feel the tension leaving her shoulders just at the sight of the cliffs and sea.

The house they pulled up to was in a Victorian-era terrace with pale blue plaster walls and a steep set of steps up from the street. The beach was a 15-minute walk through a park and Kerry loved it the minute she set eyes on it. The decor reminded her of the hotel in Tresco, all soft creams and blues that soothed the soul. There was a small garden out back so Scout could be outdoors while Kerry worked but walks would be much easier to manage with the park and beach so close.

After looking around, Kerry went to the bedroom to unpack.

“You making your nest?” Keanu said teasing her as he joined her in the bedroom.

“You know I like to have things in their proper place - and you do too Virgo boy so you can’t talk!”

“Alright! Anyway, are you happy? Did I do good?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind, keeping her from her task.

She turned in his arms laughing.

“Yeah, you did good Reeves, very good. You know don’t take this, you know, the wrong way or like I’m fishing or anything, but …”

“What?”

“But life with you, it’s like a wonderful long honeymoon you know ?”

He laughed understanding why she hadn’t wanted him to think she wanted a proposal!

“Mmmm I agree because you, my love, certainly do taste sweet as honey” she giggled “and I do love your moons” he added, squeezing her buttocks. He kissed her then, deeply and it soon turned hungry and demanding, his hands moving to the buttons on her shirt and the zipper on her jeans.

He broke the kiss only to shove the half-unpacked case onto the floor and push her back on the bed where he began an attack on her breasts with his hands and mouth. It didn’t take long to remove the rest of their clothes and join everything that mattered. She welcomed him in every way, her pussy wet and wide open, her arms pulling him to her and hands raking up his back. He felt like he had become literally joined to her, the squeezing of her muscles starting a tingling and throbbing all along his rigid cock as he pumped in and out. He slowed a little, leaning down to kiss her, trying to hold back but it was useless. Her throat was like a fountain and he let go, filling her in a tremendous burst as her pussy fluttered and pulsed around him. He had to release her from the kiss to shout out his joy and she screamed hers. She fell back on the bed and he down upon her, breathing heavily into her neck for a while before lifting up and smiling down into her eyes.

“Love you Kerensa” he said using her full name which he often chose in moments of passion

“Love you too Kiki !” she’d taken to calling him that since he’d confessed it was a childhood nickname.

The trip passed quickly. Kerry loved San Francisco and split her days between writing and exploring the seafront, parks and the harbour side with Scout in tow as much as she could. She would report back each day with finds and suggestions for restaurants for dinner. Her worries from LA seemed far away.

@fortheloveoffanfic @kindainlovewithkeanu @omg-imagine @keanureevesisbae @penwieldingdreamer @paperplanesandwallflowers @witty-wallflower @karlee1225 @bitchyslut99 @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @kissmyromanticquote @tacticalchics @utterlynuts @kylosbitch @thebigbubowski @thelightnessofthebeing @gatsbynouvel @keanuficfiles @fanficsrusz @jardaniswife @cheezbort @mazzylana97 @maggiemoo1892 @girlfriday007 @siriussnape07 @yomnaislame @soarocks @fadingkideclipseempath @franny-banks-world @keanulowe @babylovejongin @lucky134ever @jasmindaughteroftheworld @tomorrowsanotherday @fokinqueen @littlefreya @leftyreea @wheretheriversrunintothesea @iworshipkeanureeves @fics-not-tragedies @ficsnroses @fickenstein @popacherryvisitalibrary @aah8903 @thethirstyarchive @cynic-spirit @australianpsychos @meetmeinthematinee

[allie1804-fan]

Kerense Part 2

This is a continuation of Kerensa - read Part 1 here

Kerensa (Part 1)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13

Chapter 1, Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Warnings : Just like Keanu in these fics, I don't actually know any of the other real people portrayed here so my versions of them are all supposition!

LA Home?

After a couple of weeks, they moved on to LA. Kerry was Flabbergasted by the size and style of his home. It had a cool feel due to the size of the rooms and the large pieces of art in the main living area which had vast bi-fold doors leading out to the patio and pool. He was most excited to show her his pond with Koi Carp and the breathtaking view.

His office and bedroom were warmer in style, more in keeping with the man and she was thrilled with the kitchen which his sister had designed with herself in mind for when she visited and wanted to cook or for Keanu when he had a caterer come in.

On their first night, they ordered take out and ate outside by the pool. They were both tired from travelling but he promised to take her out to some favourite haunts soon. His bigger priority was making her and Scout feel at home and welcome.

That started with meeting his mum. Having heard a lot about her before he left, his mother, in particular, was very keen to make her acquaintance. She invited them over and had a meal catered.

She was welcoming but there was an edge of scrutiny in her gaze and her questions.

In the car on the way home, Kerry pointed it out.

It’s just like Jason Robards says in Parenthood. “It never ends”

“What?”

“Well, your mum was clearly concerned I might be some kind of leach!”

“Kerry, she thinks that about everyone I meet, but especially women. But she liked you, I could tell. And you bonded over all your English connections right?”

“I guess!”

Next up was Karina who had them over for Thanksgiving. She was more easygoing than her mother and they had a very relaxed day with Keanu and his brother-in-law bonding over the football and Kerry and Karina enjoying working together in the kitchen.

In the weeks running up to Christmas, their projects were on hiatus and they focussed on getting Kerry acclimatised to LA. Keanu bought her a car (she was not up for driving his Porsche) and they went on bike rides up PCH, took Scout on hikes in local parks and continued her introductions to his friends.

Key amongst them was Alex Winter and his family. They spent a great day on the beach at Malibu with him, his wife and their 2 youngest sons. Alex took a cute pic of Kerry and Keanu there - She had straggly wet hair from messing around in the sea and was wearing a loose shirt over her swimming costume. Her arms were draped around Keanu’s neck and they were both grinning broadly. She liked it so much, she had it printed and framed and placed it on their dressing table. It was one way she could try to settle in.

She certainly felt safe and welcome in his home, but, truth be told, not really at home

Some of that was connected to Scout. There was an inner courtyard where Scout could chill in a shady spot and you could walk him along the road nearby but only in the evening when the surface would be cool enough. To walk the dog, you really needed to go to a park, beach or further out into hills. It wasn’t just a stone’s throw away like at Sennen.

Also, in one sense, the house felt huge but at the same time, claustrophobic. It was curious that she could feel hemmed in despite the space and open view at the back - it was like you couldn’t touch the nature that was so near at hand and when she felt like that, the waves of nostalgia for Sennen were powerful.

Another challenge she faced and hadn’t really expected had been the number of female friends Keanu had who, it was clear, were past sexual partners. It wasn’t that anyone said anything to her, least of all him for whom it was all just water under the bridge, but some of them had an unmistakable body language towards him, while others displayed a certain possessiveness that she found, if not threatening then at least challenging.

She knew he’d had a different life from her, longer in single mode, less settled in one place and with a lot of opportunity to be promiscuous, so she knew she had to accept it, but she also struggled to imagine still hanging out with people you’d been so intimate with in the past as it had been a very rare experience for her.

Fortunately, Karina was a bit of an ally in at least filling in the gaps as to who was or wasn’t an ex. Kerry didn’t want to come off as jealous or obsessive, so asking Keanu was a no-no, at least at first. One day, Karina had come over to talk Christmas food and caught Kerry staring off into the distance.

“Hey, where have you gone?” Karina asked her.

Wha …? oh sorry, nowhere, I’m right here”

“ oh no, not falling for THAT. What did he do?”

“Keanu? Nothing. Honest.”

“Kerry?”

“Honest he didn’t. It’s just, errm Autumn came over last night”

“Ughhh”

“What?”

“Nothing, she’s just not my favourite of his exes that still hangs around him”

“Oh so she IS an ex, I wasn’t sure and he didn’t say so”

“He wouldn’t, to him it’s ancient history - and it is. They properly dated in the 90s and then I’m pretty sure she was, you know…. A friend …..”

“With benefits?”

“Yeah, sometime in the 2000s but not in the past few years. Was she civil to you?”

“Yeah yeah, she was just quite, erm touchy with him and sort of “

“Possessive?”

“Not exactly, but she made sure to mention things from way back several times as if to remind me and him that I’m the new kid. I mean maybe I was being over-sensitive, it was weird”

“Naah, that’s her thing. She didn’t manage to clinch him and that still riles her so she hangs in there with the “trusty oldest friend” card.

“Yeah but she’s not his oldest friend right? Brenda is from school and that lovely lady Clare is from before her time right?”

“Right, I mean Autumn is from way back but she’s not the unique one she likes to think.”

Mostly, the exes were subtle in their comments or behaviour but China Chow came close to making Kerry spit her drink out at a Christmas party when she was a bit drunk. She was saying how happy she was to see Keanu happy.

“And you my friend are a lucky girl, he’s good between the sheets too huh?, hic!”

The following morning Keanu and Kerry were lying in bed with a coffee, nursing hangovers and doing a party post-mortem.

“Oh my God, China was drunk wasn’t she?!” Keanu snorted.

“I’ll say!” She replied rolling her eyes

“What?”

“Have you had sex with all of your female friends?!” She asked pointedly.

“Oh my god, what did she say?”

“Oh, how happy she is for you …..”

“Mmmmm, so?”

“And how lucky I am….and how good you are between the sheets”

It was Keanu’s turn to almost spit out his coffee.

“That must have been awkward.!”

“Well would have been worse if we weren’t both at least a little drunk”

“Do you mind?” “That I have a past?” he clarified when she looked questioningly at him.

“No, I just, I never had an ex who I still hung out with after we split so it’s a little weird for me. And they’re all so, you know, LA glamorous.”

“Come ‘ere.” He said pulling her close after seeing the uncertainty in her eyes.

“It’s you I love, you I want to wake up with every morning and hold in my arms each night. And they're so called glamour is no match for your beauty. And, it’s like, over 10 years ago that I was with any of the friends I still see, sexually. Kerry, I promise. Are we ok?”

“yeah, we’re good” she reassured.

And they were. Christmas was around the corner and Kerry enjoyed shopping for gifts, getting a tree and decorating the house. They placed the bird decoration for Ava on the tree and he gave her two angels to hang for her babies and a Celtic fertility symbol in hope of a future as parents. They spent Xmas Day with his mother and Karina and Keanu went on his usual Boxing Day bike ride with old friends while Kerry went to the cinema with Karina.

On 29th they headed back to the UK, where they spent New year with her sister and family and 10 days having catch-ups with friends in London and Cornwall.

By mid-January, they were back in LA and finally, it felt like there would be a period of being more settled. They socialised but there were no more big introductions to make and Kerry planned to crack on with her novel.

@fortheloveoffanfic @kindainlovewithkeanu @omg-imagine @keanureevesisbae @penwieldingdreamer @paperplanesandwallflowers @witty-wallflower @karlee1225 @bitchyslut99 @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @kissmyromanticquote @tacticalchics @utterlynuts @kylosbitch @thebigbubowski @thelightnessofthebeing @gatsbynouvel @keanuficfiles @fanficsrusz @jardaniswife @cheezbort @mazzylana97 @maggiemoo1892 @girlfriday007 @siriussnape07 @yomnaislame @soarocks @fadingkideclipseempath @franny-banks-world @keanulowe @babylovejongin @lucky134ever @jasmindaughteroftheworld @tomorrowsanotherday @fokinqueen @littlefreya @leftyreea @wheretheriversrunintothesea @iworshipkeanureeves @fics-not-tragedies @ficsnroses @fickenstein @popacherryvisitalibrary @aah8903 @thethirstyarchive @cynic-spirit @australianpsychos @meetmeinthematinee

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa Part 2

This is a continuation of Kerensa which you can find here:

Kerensa (Part 1)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

New York Adventure

At the end of October, they headed to New York as their first stop in the US. Keanu had a meeting with a director and a potential co-star for a chemistry test and since Kerry had never been before, they agreed to do some sightseeing\. There were some inevitable paparazzi encounters after the various shots of them together in London and Oxford had fuelled a fire which continued when they passed through JFK airport.

Still, Keanu wasn’t prepared to hide and he wanted her to see the sites. One of her favourites was the scene of a When Harry Met Sally moment, Washington square.

Keanu nicknamed her his “rom com girl”

That evening back at his apartment she asked him

“So what else have you done, Rom Com wise I mean, other than my favourite?” (She meant “Something’s Gotta Give”)

“Well I guess the first was “Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter”, I play a young journalist who falls in love with his sort of aunt, played by Barbara Hershey”

“Oh I loved her in “Hannah and Her Sisters”

“Yeah she was awesome to work with. And what else, errm “Always Be My Maybe” but I’m not the lead, just a comedy turn I guess and then there was “Destination Wedding” that’s a kind of anti RomCom but it still has, you know a 'meet cute', fallings out and in and so on”

Once Kerry knew the leading lady was Winona, that was the one she wanted to see and she laughed like a drain at his post-coital grin and sigh after Frank and Lyndsay had sex.

Keanu paused the film.

“hey you, what’s so funny about me having sex”

“Kerry wiped the tears from her eyes. It’s just, you know, I know you do that!”

“What? What do I do? I don’t cum like that!”

“No, not that but that goofy grin after you’ve cum is all you and that little sigh too, too funny imagining you having to re-record that in one of those little audio booths!”

“Yeah that was kind of embarrassing!” He admitted. “But darling I’m a professional and I did what I had to do, though it does take practice!” he said before whisking her off to bed.

Another night they agreed to watch baby Keanu in Parenthood. It was one of her favourites and she could quote loads of lines from it, not just his iconic “anyone can be a father” lines. She admitted that in her early married life, it had been the film that expressed her wish for her future with Matt, her ex.

“Do you still think about that, about having kids?”

“Errm I guess not, I mean it doesn’t feel very realistic now. I mean, you know, I’m 41. Anyway, well, I want to be with you so you’d have to want them too and we didn’t talk about that really before getting together. I guess I just assumed you wouldn’t …I’m babbling! I mean would you even want them?”

Keanu chuckled softly at her befuddlement.

“Well, I do worry a bit about being too old but, yeah, I’d still like a kid, if you want one that is and you don’t mind having one with a very old guy”

Kerry stared at him for a moment. She couldn’t quite believe it - when she’d realised she was in love with him, she’d thought if she chose that path it would inevitably mean no kids given he was 59.

“You’d do that, for me?”

“Yeah but it wouldn’t be FOR you, I mean it wouldn’t be a compromise, it would be for us, together”

“How have you not been snapped up before now?” she asked, a tear leaking out.

He smiled shyly.

“Never met the right woman before”

She gave him a gentle kiss, eyes shining with happiness.

“Well, ok then but you know I might not be able to get pregnant. It might all be moot in the end”

“Yeah, I know but we could just ditch the condoms and see what happens!”

“I knew you had an ulterior motive” she laughed.

He giggled in return.

“Caught me! No, but seriously, let’s just see how it goes and we can get a health check when we’re in LA. I already added you to my healthcare plan remember?”

“OK smooth talker, OK”

The rest of their stay was filled with activities: a play on Broadway, seeing a band Keanu knew in a tiny dive bar, mooching around Keanu’s favourite bookshop and long walks with Scout in Central Park. It was easy to be on foot in New York and even though it was a world away from Sennen’s wild, isolated landscape, Kerry felt at home there. And it didn’t hurt that each night ended in his arms, making love with the hope of making a baby.

@fortheloveoffanfic @kindainlovewithkeanu @omg-imagine @keanureevesisbae @penwieldingdreamer @paperplanesandwallflowers @witty-wallflower @karlee1225 @bitchyslut99 @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @kissmyromanticquote @tacticalchics @utterlynuts @kylosbitch @thebigbubowski @thelightnessofthebeing @donakamark @gatsbynouvel @keanuficfiles @fanficsrusz @jardaniswife @cheezbort @mazzylana97 @maggiemoo1892 @girlfriday007 @siriussnape07 @yomnaislame @soarocks @fadingkideclipseempath @franny-banks-world @keanulowe @babylovejongin @lucky134ever @jasmindaughteroftheworld @tomorrowsanotherday @fokinqueen @littlefreya @leftyreea @wheretheriversrunintothesea @iworshipkeanureeves ’ @ficsnroses @fickenstein @popacherryvisitalibrary @aah8903 @thethirstyarchive @cynic-spirit @australianpsychos @meetmeinthematinee@fics-not-tragedies

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa Part 2

This is a continuation of Kerensa which you can find here:

Kerensa (Part 1)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13

Chapter 1

Settling down

On their return to Sennen, they decided to stay until the end of October which would give Kerry time to make plans for the cottage. Then they would return, either at Christmas or New Years, to see her sister and her family.

Day to day, life living together was comfortable - they each found the other easy to live with and she was relieved to find that he was a tidy person and didn’t expect her to do all the heavy lifting on domestic tasks which had been a bone of contention with her ex. She did do most of the cooking though as that wasn’t his forte, however he had taught himself a little during his time in lockdown and also in Cornwall given you can’t eat out so easily there as in LA. His forte was definitely sandwiches for lunchtimes - he could wax lyrical about sandwich choices and creation and he could rustle up a couple of pasta dishes his sister had taught him as well as cook a mean steak.

They had a chat about pet peeves to try and head off issues, from the possibly trivial (like no coming in for a pee while I’m in the bath (they had 2 toilets in the house after all) to getting a cleaner and then more fundamental issues like phone privacy, honesty, not sleeping on an argument and so on.

After a couple of weeks, she commented that living together felt good and easy and she admitted how nervous she’d been, after Tresco, that they would be brought back to reality with a bump with the day to day of living together. He warned her it might not be so great when he’s filming.

“I can get a bit obsessive, reclusive. You’ll have to call me on it if I neglect you but I will try not to turn in on myself. But I also used to take on projects more I think to fill my life, I feel now I should get even more picky, now that there’s something, well someone else worth spending time on!”

Kerry had already given up waitressing due to the writing needing more time, so they often split their time between Cornwall and London where he could take meetings and do PR or press if needed while there and she would see her agent and publisher. They established a rhythm of 4 days working and 3 off for leisure and trips back in Cornwall or elsewhere. She took him to Lords to see a cricket test match, laughing as she tried to explain the intricacies of the game. Being a sports guy, he enjoyed it despite the occasional confusion at what was going on!

Another trip was to Oxford, where he’d discovered she studied at university. Their early lives had never come up in conversation til one evening they were watching an old episode of “Inspector Morse” which she said she loved.

“Reminds me of student days”

“Huh? You studied …… there?”

“Yup” she grinned at his amazement. “Don’t you think I’m clever enough?!” her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“No, god, no I mean yes!” he garbled “it’s not that, it’s just wouldn’t that be, you know like one of your highlights you drop in, you know, to impress!”

She giggled.

“Well I guess it wasn’t like that with us was it? Neither of us was trying to impress, and educational or other achievements never came up otherwise you’d have been telling me about all the A list directors who’ve chased you to work with them or how many millions you’ve made or how you were the internet’s boyfriend!”

“Stop, stop, ok, you know all that stuff?”

She nodded yes. “You only have to read one or two decent articles to get all that info you know!”

“OK but anyway back to you, so wow, Oxford!”

She told him how she’d studied English at St Catherine’s, one of the modern colleges (well, one that was built in the 1960s not the 1560’s!) and it favoured a more state school intake than the likes of Christchurch or Magdalen where old Etonians gravitated.

“But I still got to go to tutorials in the dreaming spires parts so it was a wonderful experience. We should go, on the way back from London next week. I’ll give you the tour.”

They fitted in a visit, staying at the Randolph Hotel as a treat for Kerry. She explained to him that it was always there that the well-to-do murderers in Morse episodes had stayed and it was totally central in the city too. He donned a beanie and shades to try and keep a little anonymity as they strolled around the city and she used her alumni card to get free access to some of the splendid college gardens.

There was some publicity while they were there due to fans spotting him in a pub where he��d taken his beanie and sunglasses off while they sat to eat. A small crowd had gathered as they’d left and at first it was fine, just taking selfies but when Kerry got jostled by an overzealous fan, Keanu nearly lost it, starting to drag her away but she stopped him.

“Look, don’t punish the nice guys for that one idiot. Leave her out but I’ll just go sit out of the way for a sec while you do your thing”

“You sure?” She nodded and he went back to the gathered fans, taking selfies for about 15 minutes. The rude fan stalked off when he pointedly ignored her.

“Phew that was a bit intense,” she said afterwards. It’s like news of your presence spread like wildfire!”

“Yeah took me a little off guard too. I mean usually, it only happens in airports or hotels when people get wind you are there due to an event, not so much day to day, at least not a crowd like that. Look try not to worry.” he reassured. Fortunately, the rest of their stay there passed without incident.

He’d already told Cheryl that he and Kerry were now an item and warned Kerry that at some point there might be pictures in the press and some intrusion. After that incident, she also talked to her literary agent and publishers - they were pleased, only saying the attention could be positive for her book but she hoped it wouldn’t distract or appear like she was using him. After all, she’d been pursuing her writing long before she even met him.

Before they left the UK, they made a visit to see her sister and her partner and kids. Kerry loved to see how well he got on with her brother-in-law and niece and nephew and how readily they just accepted him as her partner. But her sister couldn’t help but be worried about her younger sibling. In a quiet moment in the kitchen over breakfast, she said

“I can see he loves you, god those puppy dog eyes gazing at you last night - how do you get anything done?! But I do worry about you going away to America for long spells. Won’t you be horribly isolated, lonely even?”

“I’ll be fine” she reassured “I’ll still have my writing to do and Scout, and we have each other. It will take some getting used to, sure, but it’s just a change of location really. It’s not like I see my friends that often anyway in person. Cornwall might as well be LA if you think about how unwilling most people have been to visit me since I moved!”

@fortheloveoffanfic @kindainlovewithkeanu @omg-imagine @keanureevesisbae @penwieldingdreamer @paperplanesandwallflowers @witty-wallflower @karlee1225 @bitchyslut99 @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @kissmyromanticquote @tacticalchics @utterlynuts @kylosbitch @thebigbubowski @thelightnessofthebeing @donakamark @gatsbynouvel @keanuficfiles @fanficsrusz @jardaniswife @cheezbort @mazzylana97 @maggiemoo1892 @girlfriday007 @siriussnape07 @yomnaislame @soarocks @fadingkideclipseempath @franny-banks-world @keanulowe @babylovejongin @lucky134ever @jasmindaughteroftheworld @tomorrowsanotherday @fokinqueen @littlefreya @leftyreea @wheretheriversrunintothesea @iworshipkeanureeves ' @ficsnroses @fickenstein @popacherryvisitalibrary @aah8903 @thethirstyarchive @cynic-spirit @australianpsychos @meetmeinthematinee@fics-not-tragedies

[allie1804-fan]

Kerensa

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Return to London

Keanu and Cheryl sat in the first-class departure lounge with a pot of coffee and some pastries beside them.

“You’re doing what?” she gasped

“The Griefcast – it’s a podcast about death.

“Yes I’ve heard of it, the host contacted me last time we were in the UK, wondering if you’d do it and I didn’t even bother telling you because I KNEW you wouldn’t want to ……..”

“Yeah well, things change”

“Come on Keanu, you’ve barely mentioned a word to a soul about your grief, let alone talking in a public forum!”

“Like I said, things change, Kerry, she said it would do me good”

“Oh, I should have known she’d have something to do with this!”

“What do you mean, you don’t even know her!”

“Well I feel like I do from the amount you’ve babbled on about her!” she snorted.

“Whatever!”

They’d known each other for years and Cheryl was very motherly and protective of Keanu. She worried that this new woman wasn’t going to be good for him or his reputation. This kind of back and forth between them was pretty par for the course!

“So do you want me there? For The Griefcast record?”

“Nope, I’ll be fine thanks, I’ve already chatted with Cariad – you can listen to the edit though and we can discuss any issues then.”

“OK – and then we have the Premiere, Graham Norton, Jonathan Ross, The One Show and then we go back on Saturday”

“You do – I’ve changed mine to an open-ended return”

“Let me guess, you’re going to see this Kerry woman!”

“Yup, so I can tell her how I feel and stop bothering you all about it!”

“Well good, I hope it works out …… “

Keanu looked at her pointedly

“No really I do, I can see you’re smitten and, well, you deserve to be happy. It’s been too long”

“Agreed!”

@fortheloveoffanfic @omg-imagine @iworshipkeanureeves @toomanystoriessolittletime @ladyreapermc @paperplanesandwallflowers @patric9