"i Already Did That Once."

© 2024 = JoshFrom53

Dear reader.

It's been a long time since I published a story. Sorry about that.

I hesitated for a long time whether to publish this story in one or two parts. It is long (about thirty thousand words) and slow.

Disclaimer.

All likeness to persons, institutions and companies in my stories are completely incidental. Actually: nothing in this story has any relation to reality

Oh, and of course everything and everybody engaged in any sexual activity is 18 years or older.

Also, and very important.

Opinions stated in this story are not necessarily my own. Don't take offense. It is still just a story.

Turning502019, again, was my editor. Will, my sincere thanks for suffering through this one.

Part 1

The demise of a marriage.

Chapter 1.

Something was feeling off in the life of Hans Peters. It was a gut feeling and he couldn't put a finger on what was wrong.

It was as if there was a cold fog rolling in between Marjory, his wife, and himself and he couldn't burn through it to find her again.

This morning, he bought miniature roses for her and she accepted them without even saying thanks. When he arrived home, he found the wilted roses on the kitchen table.

With a sigh he binned them.

Why am I still trying?

he thought sadly.

He went back to the living room. Marjory was already sleeping and he needed some time to unwind from another stressful shift. His company was still refusing to invest in replacing the old worn down often malfunctioning production robots, causing disruptions along the production lines. As Supervisor on Duty (How he hated the abbreviation of his title) he and his maintenance crew had to keep these disruptions to a minimum and that was heavy and intensive work. Stressful too.

Sitting, alone, in the silence of the night he was pondering what went wrong. Whatever he tried, Marjory and he were emotionally drifting apart and as usual, he blamed himself.

Their intimacy had already dwindled into nothingness. Even the small caresses and cuddles were absent for at least a year. Now she withdrew mentally as well.

Hans was a reasonable fit man for his sixty years and his lifestyle. Lifestyle as in working in irregular shifts since he was twenty years of age and that included night-shifts as well as working on the weekends.

Marjory worked part time for the Ministry of Education as support for school inspectors to ensure the quality of teaching in schools.

He was carrying a few kilos too many and that showed a little around his belly. But because he has always been physically active, his lifestyle hadn't presented him with a bill in the form of cardiovascular problems, or diabetes. Although he had problems with sleeping though. Especially during the night-shift the duration of his sleep was down to three hours. After 7 night-shifts it took him almost a week to turn his wake/sleep rhythm back to normal.

Because he knew the dangers he exercised almost daily. He could still run a half marathon in little over two hours and as much as possible with his shifts, took Tai Chi lessons, also he didn't think twice about a decent walk of 25 miles.

He would like to have a normal office job, but the extra pay for working shifts and the bonuses for keeping the lines functional above agreed levels, made up for almost a third of his income. That again meant that his two children both received their master's degree without needing a student loan.

For Hans it was all worthwhile.

They raised two responsible and well-balanced children, a son, Stephan, and a daughter, Louise, who both gave them 2 grandchildren.

His eldest grandson, Kevin was from Stephan, and his granddaughter, Rita, from Louise, came into the world only 2 days apart. Both sixteen now and they did have that connection that came from being exposed to one another from the day the youngest of the two was born. When they met after being separated for a week, or longer, for them, the rest of the world stopped existing until they had reconnected.

The other two boys differed in age by about half a year.

Hans and Marjory still lived in the house they bought when Stephan was a year old. It was a small suburban house with a city-garden. The house was situated just short of the city-borders and it was a short walk from the park and the nature preserve at the other side of that border. With all amenities from a big city, like shops, public transport, healthcare-center and theaters combined with the unique location made it so that Marjory and Hans never had the tendency to move.

Hans was an easy-going, confrontation-avoiding creature and some of his brothers-in-law thought him a wimp. His sister-in-law however knew better and was very fond of him in a sisterly way.

Hans's parents' marriage had been a bad one. They argued often and loudly about anything and everything and it was his mother abusing his father, verbally and physically, not the other way around.

It was why he hated arguments and that's why Marjory almost always got her way.

He had some hard stops and no-goes and he was very willing to defend them. No cheating, no bullying, or denigrating other people, keep your promises, take responsibility for your own actions and be loyal to the ones close to you.

Before they married, Marjory found out the hard way that Hans indeed had limits and that it was wise not to push, or to overstep them. They had been very close to not having married at all

About forty years ago.

They weren't even engaged, but already exclusive for a while and talked about sharing the rest of their lives together when Marjory and Hans met each other again just before a party held by a friend of Marjory's.

Marjory had been on a month-long holiday with her parents whereas Hans, just eighteen, worked his summer job. Two days after the party, they would go camping together for about ten days.

For this holiday, Hans had been able to borrow his mother's car. He himself had had a restored 1967 BMW R69S. After restoring the bike to its former glory, he also found a Hoske tank capable of holding ten gallons of petrol that made the bike capable to travel long distances without the need to fuel up and he wanted to use it for his holiday with Marjory.

Marjory's mother objected strenuously against the two holidaying by using the bike and she forbade Marjory to do so. Luckily Hans' mother came to the rescue, lending them her car.

At that evening of the party Hans parked his motorcycle in front of the house where she lived and picked Marjory up.

An hour later they arrived at the party and Hans expected that after doing the obligatory rounds they would reconnect after being separated for a month. Marjory did all of it, except reconnecting with Hans.

She ignored him completely.

She started talking and later dancing with another guy the whole evening after giving Hans the cold shoulder each time he approached her.

Hans felt neglected and started to get aggravated. He was just about to confront the pair when a mutual friend showed up. They talked for a while when they both witnessed the man kissing Marjory.

But instead of Marjory pulling back, the kiss heated up and became a serious bout of tonsil hockey.

Hans turned to his friend. "It makes you wonder what happened during her holiday. I don't think she needs me anymore. If necessary, though she might leave with my replacement, can you take her home? My holiday is going to start a few days early."

Eric replied, putting an arm around Hans's shoulders. "I'm so sorry to see this happen. Yeah, I'll keep an eye on her. The stupid bitch."

At the end of the evening Marjory was standing alone and looking around for Hans, helmet in her hands, when she saw Eric. "Where's Hans?"

"He left early, saying that he wanted to go on holiday a few days early. He was quite angry at the time he left."

"Why, just because I was talking to another guy? He must grow up a bit."

"Maybe, but neglecting and ignoring your boyfriend after being separated for a month would make me aggravated too, but kissing that fucker like you did was the thing that pushed him over the line."

Marjory went red. "Ow shit. I didn't realize... It was a game and I lost. He really saw that?"

"We both saw your lip-locking that guy. I think you can consider yourself single again. Hans had the decency to ask me to take you home if you needed a ride and I promised to do so.

"If I were Hans, I would have left you stranded here." Eric turned and walked to the exit. "Are you coming?" He asked.

Late next morning.

Marjory finally gathered enough courage to go over to Hans's house. She was as nervous as a cat in a dog's pen and waiting for the door to open after she rang the bell.

"What are you doing here?" Was the blunt question from Hans' little sister.

From the room sounded, "Who's there Annika?"

Without turning around Annika replied, "It's the bitch!"

She didn't get the rest out of her mouth because, "Annika! Mind your tongue and ask her in."

Annika's mouth snapped shut and with a face as a thundercloud she stepped aside, saying nothing.

Inside she asked in a little voice, "Is Hans at home? I think I owe him an apology."

"He isn't dear. He came home rather early yesterday evening, telling us that you had replaced him with a new friend and that he decided to go to France alone."

"When does he leave? I noticed your car is still outside."

"He took the BMW. Yesterday, after he told us, he switched the petrol tank for the Hoske tank and mounted the panniers. He packed and left this morning at about five."

Marjory hung her head in disappointment.

"What happened dear? He was very angry at you."

"I know and it's my fault. I took Hans for granted. I ignored him the whole evening, reconnecting with friends instead of Hans and something happened.

"Halfway the evening I got involved in a stupid kind of truth-or-dare game and I lost. The guy I lost from demanded that I kiss him. When I did, I let it get out of hand. Hans must have seen it because I couldn't find him afterwards.

"That's why I came here. I wanted to explain and apologize."

"Well, you have to wait until he's back. He promised that he wouldn't stay away any longer that fourteen days. I can only hope that he has calmed down a bit."

"And that he isn't snatched-up by another girl." Annika sneered, upon which Marjory went pale.

"Annika! Didn't I tell you to curb that tongue!" Annika's mother's voice sounded like a whip.

Annika fled inside without another word. Marjory left, feeling empty and stupid.

Three weeks later.

She hadn't heard a peep from Hans. Her parents received a postcard. Her older sister Dorene, or Dorrie as Hans always called her, even a letter.

She wasn't very surprised about that. Hans always called Dorene his big sister and he joked that; if she didn't already have a boyfriend, he would ask her to marry him.

But she hadn't received anything at all. No letters, no cards, no call. Last year he had called her even twice from a telephone-boot and she remembered how happy she had been.

[=][=]

Marjory knew that Hans was back and she felt the pain of missing him each time she heard the hoarse roar of the boxer twin engine when she was at college.

Hans went to the same college only studied engineering with a minor for design. She studied textiles design and education.

For a month she tried to catch him at school. Between school, his job at the garage, Tai Chi and running he was seldomly at home. The garage was out-of-bounds due to the neighborhood it was located in, one needed to be a member to enter the dojo and Hans hated training on school's oval and ran mostly in the park or the woods. Anyhow he was way too fast to keep up, let alone have a decent discussion while running.

To add to her problems, the guy, Frank, that she had kissed during the party was convinced that she was now his girl and didn't seem to take no for an answer. He kept stalking her and became more frustrated by the day because of her refusal to fall under his spell.

[=][=]

Hans never parked his motorcycle in front of the school. He had witnessed up-close what can happen when a car turns into, what the driver thought, an empty spot. One gorgeous Norton Commando was almost totalled.

Hans parked his bike at the back of the building, together with some other bike owners.

The school didn't mind and even provided a locker-room for their motorcycle suits and a shortcut through the building with a key to the backdoor for easy access. Provided you could prove that you had a motorcycle and used it to go to college.

Hans was making his way to the locker through the labyrinthian corridors and along storage-rooms that made up for the basement when he heard a familiar voice shouting, "No dammit! I told you that I'm not interested! You're a creep!"

The voice pitched higher and a panicky note seeped in, "Keep your hands off me!"

A deeper voice replied, "Come on, you want it. Just admit it and give in."

That was the moment that Hans rounded the corner and witnessed Frank pushing Marjory against the wall, groping her breasts.

"I distinctly heard her saying that she isn't interested. So why don't you leave her alone and walk-on." Hans growled. He might still be angry at Marjory, but he couldn't let her be treated like this

Frank was startled for a moment. but almost immediately regained his posture. "What the fuck. Mind your own business. She's mine now."

"She isn't yours, nor mine and if you don't understand what no means, maybe I need to teach you."

"What?" Frank shouted. Angry because he was interrupted while he finally had the bitch cornered.

From nowhere he produced a small truncheon, raised it threateningly and shuffled over to Hans. "When I'm done with you. I'm gonna make her squeal from delight and she will never want another man."

"Man." Hans goaded, thinking;

keep him angry. Angry opponents easily make mistakes.

"You're a man because you have your little willie in your hand? Ohh, please."

Frank exploded, swiped the truncheon hard at Hans's head, but hit only air.

Hans saw the move coming. He avoided the swipe and just stepped into reach. He delivered a hard two-handed blow to the chest and solar plexus, just like his sensei had taught him.

Frank crumbled to his knees, feeling like being hit by a train. Suddenly all the air rushed out of his body and he couldn't breathe.

Hans helped him gently to the ground and to lie on his back. When Frank was down Hans whispered in his ear, " This was just a gentle tap to warn you that if I ever, even, have an inkling that you bother any women ever again, I will come after you and you'll need a stretcher. Understood, you asshole?"

Terrified Frank blinked and nodded. Hans got back on his feet again and said to Marjory, "He'll be alright in a minute or so. Let's go."

Marjory knew that Hans had Tai-Chi lessons and she once saw a documentary on television about China. In that documentary there were people practicing Tai-Chi, but those movements were slow and exaggerated and it hadn't given her the idea that it was a martial art at all.

She shivered and asked in a little voice, "Can you take me home please?"

"I can't. I'm on my bike and you don't have a helmet."

"I still have yours. It's in my locker. I, I." She started to cry.

"Oww, Okay. You get the helmet. I'll bring the bike to the front."

"Thank you. I love you." and quickly she kissed him on his cheek before running in the other direction.

Hans stood still, pondering what just had happened, shrugged and went for his bike.

Marjory climbed off the bike and was deliberating whether she dared to ask Hans inside when Dorene opened the door, "I thought I heard your bike, Hans. Get yourself inside. I have coffee and I need to talk to you.

Inside, Marjory went upstairs to freshen herself up. Meanwhile Dorene, after a short conversation where she observed Hans intently. She concluded, "You're not going to take her back, do you?"

"No, not a chance. I can't live with the knowledge that if I'm not around she is looking to another man for comfort. We promised exclusivity to each other and she broke that promise right in front of me. That makes me think about what happened when she was away on holiday with you and your parents."

Dorene didn't reply. She had some harsh discussions with her little sister when she caught her engaged in a very heavy petting session with a local boy.

Marjory's scathing answer was, "If you don't tell Hans he is never to know. What harm is there in it?"

Hans noted that Dorene did not contradict him nor denied that something happened.

He sighed deeply and said, "You're failing to confirm that nothing happened I wouldn't accept, is telling enough. You are between a rock and a hard place. You don't want to rat on your sister and you don't want to lie to me."

Dorene bit her lip and looked studious at her coffee.

Hans stood and said, "You can tell Marjory that I worked it out myself. I don't blame you. That's all on your sister."

With that said, he walked out and with a roar disappeared down the street.

[=][=]

It took Marjory almost one and a half years to reconnect with Hans.

Dorene and she were attending a party when she found him working behind the bar.

Hans had, since he and Marjory split, a horrible time. The marriage from his parents wasn't good to start with, was now deteriorating rapidly and he was drawn bang into the middle of it.

Taunting to each other, screaming, and lots of complaining about each other to Hans. and when he gave an opinion, the other parent treated him like a leper for a few weeks. The break with Marjory didn't do his self-esteem and confidence any good either.

It was eating at him and to protect himself, he had, unconsciously, built a wall of self-centeredness and indifference around himself. He also lost his carefree and cheerful demeanor and he was bordering on having depression.

Two women had been on the receiving end of his downgrading character change. Both ended the relationship because of his selfishness. He was aware that it was all on himself, but convinced him that a long-term relationship wasn't for him and, in his dark moods, he couldn't care less about it.

Recently he had stopped with his studies in favor of a fulltime job and the possibility of having his own place to live.

At nearly twenty years old he went to live in a small apartment in a rather dodgy neighborhood and he had met a woman who was insusceptible to his black moods and was slowly chipping at his barriers. Occasional they were friends with benefits but the woman refused downright any other relationship than that.

Marjory just broke off with someone who was cheating on her and that had hit her hard. She had cried on Dorene's shoulder, who was now happily married to Nick.

"It hurts, doesn't it, to be on the receiving end."

That comment made her be remorseful for what she did to Hans instead of being sorry for herself because she had been caught.

[=][=]

Somewhat later at a party, Marjory was shocked to see her former boyfriend helping behind the bar. Almost breathlessly she asked "Hans? How are you doing?"

Hans looked up from his beer tap, "Hello Marjory, what would you like?"

And with a hammering heart she replied, "To apologize to you in private."

Hans gave her a chance to do so and it was as if a huge stone was lifted from her soul when Hans accepted her apologies.

That same night she even wrote him a love letter. She poured her soul in it and begged for a chance to show him that she learned her lesson and would be utterly faithful to him if they reconciled.

It was the start of the long road back together.

In the conversation where they reconciled and became a couple again Hans also told her that she had used her only out-of-jail card and if she even amorously kissed another man, he would immediately break off any kind of relationship they would have at whatever cost.