Richie as an older brother! Please review!

Duncan MacLeod woke up at the usual time he had every morning with the love of his life Tessa Noel sleeping next to him.  He'd been thankful for ever morning and everyday that passed with her by his side. He was thankful for the life that was given to his daughter.  She'd had rough time loosing her previous mother, but she took to Tessa right away.

When Duncan moved to sit up he felt something at the end of the bed.  It was hard and it moved at his touch. When he saw the small lump under the covers he took his hands and grabbed at it and it laughed.  He knew that it was Grace and that she was awake and ready to drive her family up the wall.  He grabbed her from under the covers by the leg.

"What are you doing?" he said picking her up like she was toy.

"I got you."

"You got me?  You think you got me?"

"Mommy, wake up!"

"Shh, let her sleep.  Come on lets go make breakfast."

"Wake, Richie!"

"Ok let's go wake Richie."

Duncan knew that Richie might not want a six year old jumping all over him, but just at the thought of it.  They walked into the room and Duncan set Grace down. Gracie walked over to Richie's bed and crawled on the covers.  She crawled up to Richie's face and kissed him and then she started to jump up and down making the bed shake.

"What's going on?! Earthquake!" yelled Richie nearly falling off the bed. 

Duncan had to laugh at it and Grace was laughing as well.  Once Richie though found out what was going on he grabbed her in his arms and started to tickle her until she started to cry and then he stopped. 

"You know that's not nice to do?" said Richie to Mac

"Hey it was her idea. Besides I did enjoy it."

"Well, I guess since you got me up that I'd better take this sack of potatoes to the kitchen and then cook it. Richie picked up Gracie, threw her over his shoulder and carried her all the way to the kitchen.  Then he did the most horrible thing that he could have done. He opened the stove and tried to stick her in. Grace did not find this amusing. Duncan told Richie to stop so he put her down and she kicked him in the shin.

"Grace, that wasn't nice say you're sorry."

"He tried to eat me!"

"I'm sorry sweetie I didn't mean to." said Richie

Grace  just stood there with a scowl on her face and walked away.  Duncan sighed and looked at Richie.

"What? First she wakes me up and then she kicks me.  Now you act like it's my fault."

"Richie you didn't have to put her in the oven."

"I was joking."

"Not to her."

"Man some morning this has turned out to be."

"Richie Ryan what do you think you are doing?" said Tessa in the doorway with Grace in her arms

"What? I didn't touch anything!"

"Then I suppose Grace just made up the fact that you tried to put her in the oven?"

"Mac!" wined Richie

"Tess don't worry he was just joking around I was here and he didn't even turn it on.  Grace woke him up and he got her back for it.  Grace I would like it if you apologized to Richie for kicking him."

"No!"

"Grace, kicking Richie isn't nice sweetheart please say you're sorry," said Tessa surprised at her reaction

"I'm very sorry I tried to put you in the oven. You did hurt me though."

"Can I see?"

"Yeah you can see."

Richie lifted his pant leg and let her look pointing to the spot.  She kissed it and then she hugged Richie. 

"That's better."

"Why don't you go watch some TV while Dad makes breakfast?"

Tessa helped Duncan make breakfast and they all sat down together. Then it was off to work for Duncan and Richie getting the store ready.  Grace had to go to school which was always a struggle to get her to do almost every morning.  She'd much rather have stayed home with her father and Richie. 

"Why do I have to go to school? I want to stay home."

"Sweetheart you have to go to school.  Then someday you can stay home and help with the store.  You got your book bag?"

"Yes."

"Ok go say goodbye to dad and Rich."

Grace went downstairs to see her father and Richie.  They were helping a customer with something and Andrea just watched, but the man saw her and asked her for her name, but Andrea just hid behind her father.  The man smiled at her and then went on his way.

"You must be tired usually you have a motor mouth," said Duncan picking her up

"Can I stay home with you?"

"You know you can't my bonnie lass. You feel alright?"

"Grace it time to go."

"I'll walk out with you."

Duncan walked out and put Grace in the car.  He kissed her and buckled her in.  Then he kissed Tessa goodbye.

"You sure that she's alright?"

"Yeah she's fine Duncan she puts on this act everyday.  By the end of the day she'll be telling you all about it."

"Bye." he said kissing her and waving as they pulled away.

Duncan walked back inside and saw the look on Richie's face. He knew that look too well and he wasn't even going to answer him. He was attached to Grace and he wanted to just keep her with him all day long, but he knew that wasn't possible.  One of these days he was just going to have to grow up and hopefully before she did.  He was curious as to what was going on inside her head though. 

"Hey Mac?"

"Yeah Rich?"

"What is it that you have going through your head?  I mean I've know that it's been what almost one year since I've moved in, but I still can't figure it out."

"What are you babbling about?"

"What is going through that little girls head?  I mean with you its all fun, fun, fun talk a person to death, but the second she sees someone else she just acts like the world have stopped."

"I know that there is a point that you are trying to make in there somewhere."

"I know she is not the shyest person on this planet so why is it she gets so quiet when she's with you in front of certain people."

"Richie, Grace just really cautious about strangers and I guess that's partly because of me.  She knows not to talk to strangers and I guess sometimes she takes it heart, but I also think that she was putting on an act."

"She really has you wrapped around her finger."

"She  is my whole world Rich and I'd do anything for her."

"I know Mac."

They went about their day and at around two Duncan went to pick up Grace from school.  When he got there he found her sitting inside waiting for him.  She ran to him and jumped in his arms.  The teacher that was sitting with her walked over to them and introduced herself.  Then she told Duncan what had happened today at school.  Duncan was shocked at what the teacher said and he looked at Grace.  When the conversation was over Duncan took Graceie's hand and walked out to the car.  They drove home and Duncan told Grace to go to her room. 

"Hello sweetheart," said Tessa

"Hi you are never going to believe what our daughter has done."

"What?"

"She got in a fight."

"What? Who told you this?"

"The teacher and apparently she hurt the kid"

"They didn't try to call us and tell us?"

"They said that the parents took their child home and that Andrea apologized."

"Duncan she's never done this before."

"I know.  I should go talk to her though."

Duncan walked into Grace's room and he found her sitting at her table drawing.  He called her over and sat her on the bed he didn't know what to do with her.  Andrea had gotten angry at people and usually she just screamed, but after what happened to Richie earlier today he was wondering what was really going on.

"Grace you know that hurting people isn't nice right?"

"Yes Daddy."

"Then why did you hurt the other kid today?"

"He wasn't being fair."

"Sweetheart when someone isn't being kind you need to ask for help."

"I'm sorry."

"I know you are, but it wasn't nice.  Is there anything else going on with you?"

"No."

"Alright well tonight you are going to bed early and no dessert."

"Daddy!"

"Sorry princess."

"What does the guilty part have to say for her self?" said Tessa

"I love you mommy."

"She's been punished with early bed time and no dessert."

"Duncan!"

"What?"

"We agreed that she was going to go to bed early anyways."

"Well at least that no dessert still stands."

"I wasn't going to have any."

"Tessa are you trying to make this hard?"

"No, but I'm adding to it.  There will be no TV."

"Ok no TV also."

Grace just sat there and when she saw her opportunity she took it.  She hugged her father around then neck.  Duncan took one look at those brown eyes and melted. 

"Duncan MacLeod, you softy."

"Tessa she's our baby."

"I know."

"I love you."

"I love you too." said Duncan holding her

"Mommy!"

"I love you, too."

"I guess I wasn't invited to the party.  Mac, phone call."

"Thanks Rich, hello?"

"I love you Richie."

"I love you squirt.  So what's the punishment?"

"No TV, no dessert, and early bedtime."

            Richie took one look at Grace and they both made pouts and puppy dog eyes.  Duncan and Tessa just laughed at them there was no way that they were going to be ganged up on like that.  Duncan most of all wouldn't give in and Tessa couldn't believe them.

            "Tough guy it's too bad that you don't get dessert either," said Duncan coming back from his phone call

            "What?! I take it all back I do. Just please I was the good kid here."

            "Sorry Rich I can't help It." said Duncan

            "Tessa come on I'm sorry.  I'm the victim remember!"

            "You are pathetic," said Tessa laughing.

            "Come on Grace help me out here kid."

            "Richie is bad!"

            "Hey! I helped defend you!" said Richie being left to stand there, but Grace turned around and smiled at him and went running down the hall after her. "I'm going to get you!"

Chapter 2 maybe?