A/N: A very different kind of AW story about family, love, marriage, and the need to have things right before going home. Reviews are appreciated.

Jeremy had just picked up their five kids from their various schools and day cares while Tanya was working yet another double shift at the hospital. It was bedlam with the girls bickering over a boy or something or other, his sons not obeying, and the baby just plain fussing. He had a headache by the time he got everyone home and sent them to do their homework.

He went and sat on the couch then heard a crash and his daughters screaming.

He got up and went to their joint room, "You are being stupid, just because the coach didn't work out with you is no reason to quit!" Fifteen year old Dakota shouted at her younger sister Lydia.

"He hasn't in over a month, I'm losing stamina," she snapped, her frustration in actuality having nothing to do with her coach or her workout schedules.

"What's going on in here?" Jeremy asked. "Come on straighten up."

"She's being a whiny brat as usual," Dakota replied with her trademarked eye roll.

"I am not!" Lydia argued back as their doorbell rang. Jeremy sighed; if this was another certified letter from a bill collector…It couldn't get any worse. He went to answer the door.

"I don't want to tell him, he doesn't need to know," Frank said standing next to his wife. "We'll just let things go."

"Mom, Dad?" Jeremy opened the door just as Frank finished speaking. He was astonished, his parents came to visit three or four times a year and always had it scheduled months in advance. This was very unusual for them.

"Too late," Denise whispered in Frank's ear. "Hi, honey," Denise smiled and hugged her son. "Where's my little one?"

"Everybody's in their rooms for now," Jeremy replied returning her hug and moving to let his parents inside.

Frank walked in shaking his hand, "Son, place looks a little crazy."

"It's always like this," he said just as his two daughters came into the room screaming at each other again.

Frank and Denise just looked at each other, "Lydia, Dakota, front and center!" Frank said angrily. "Right now!"

They did as they were told, both afraid not to obey when their grandfather raised his voice. It was a rare thing with them so when he did do it, they immediately paid attention.

"What's the problem here?" Frank asked with his eyebrows raised.

"She is a spoiled brat and I'm tired of her crap," Dakota said "She's a little princess and thinks the world revolves around her."

"And you think getting into a shouting match her is the way to go?" Frank asked. "Not acceptable, rooms, now!"

"You can't tell us what to do!" Both girls said shocking everyone, whereas Frank never yelled at them, they never talked back to him.

"Frank, honey, please," Denise spoke quietly. "Don't."

"I'm going out with Trey," Dakota said then under her breath Lydia mumbled. "Slut"

Jeremy spoke up, "No Grandma and Grandpa are here. Not going anywhere, go make up the bed in the blue room."

"I'm not staying here," Dakota said crossing her arms and sticking her hip out. She looked just like Denise when she did that.

Before anyone could react, JJ their oldest son, nearly 18, came out of his room, "I'm going to practice."

He had hair down to his waist. "Whoa, did you forget how to go to the barber?" Frank asked staring at his grandson.

"No, I like my hair this way," JJ replied. "We all have our hair long. I like it like this and it works for the band."

"You like your hair so long you can double as a broom?" Frank asked.

"As a matter of fact I do, old man." JJ, short for Jeremy Jr., was his own person. He was incredibly smart, talented, and probably the easiest kid Jeremy and Tanya had, even if he could mop the floor with his head.

Frank smiled and reached into his wallet, "Here, in case you decide to get a haircut." He handed him a $100 bill.

"Thanks," he said and put the money in his pocket and left

"Frank," Denise said quietly. "Honey, why don't we sit down."

He nodded and they both sat down. "If he's leaving so am I," Dakota piped up.

"He's got band practice," Jeremy intervened. "You are not going to neck with boys while Grandma and Grandpa drove here to visit us."

"You and mom, not us," she retorted even though she knew it wasn't so.

Denise started crying for seemingly no reason.

"Nice going sis," Lydia glared at her sister.

Frank held his wife for a minute, "Lyds, take Grandma to wherever we're sleeping."

She nodded and put her arm around Denise and led her to the guest room.

Frank stepped in with Dakota, "I think if you brought your friend here so we could meet him your dad would be okay with you going out tonight."

"Fine, he's met him though. He practically lives here."

Frank only nodded and Dakota went to her room. Frank looked at Jeremy, "Where's their mother?"

"Work," he said that with certain degree of contempt. He'd quit his job when Tanya wanted to go back to work after Teddy was born and hadn't been able to find another now that he was a little older and could go to daycare a few days a week.

"This is why mother's stay at home and father's go to work, it's chaos in here," Frank sighed. "Where's the baby?"

"Asleep," he replied.

"I'm going to check on your mother, when is Tanya not at work so we can talk?"

"She should be home in an hour or two," Jeremy told him.

Frank nodded, "I'm not sure your mother will be ready that soon. Besides I can see we have some work to do or didn't you notice Dakota looks like she's working a corner and Brian's pupils were the size of dimes."

"I've tried fixing Dakota, nothing works so I gave up," Jeremy explained. "And his eyes always look like that."

"So he's high all the time?" Frank was on the attack. He and Jeremy's relationship was strained on their best day.

"No, he doesn't do drugs," Jeremy said defensive.

"Yeah he does," Frank replied. "He does do drugs, I know he does drugs because...forget it."

"No, I won't forget it. What is it?" he asked, this visit was unsettling enough without cryptic comments left hanging.

"I did drugs when I was a kid too, Jeremy," Frank sighed. " Just a little older than he is now."

"You what?" Jeremy gasped wide eyed.

"I messed up as a kid too," Frank replied. "I just don't want to see pot turn into anything else and it will if you aren't on top of it. Mom and I will be here for a while so I'll help you." He did something he handed done in years just then; Frank reached out and hugged his son.

Jeremy smiled and hugged his father.

Lydia came out of the bedroom, "Grandpa?"

"Yeah, sweetie?" He pulled back to look at his favorite grandchild.

"I don't think Grandma is feeling well." The teen was biting her nails.

"Okay, I'm coming," he said and released Jeremy and went to check on Denise.

Frank went to the blue room and sat beside Denise on the bed, "Dee, baby, it's okay." He pulled her close to him, "You're scaring Lydia."

"Tell him Frank," she whispered into his chest. "Please."

"Not yet," he held her closer. "Not yet, there's too much going on. Dakota is working on a teen pregnancy, JJ don't get me started, Brian's on drugs, and Lydia is going to get lost in the shuffle. We have work to do."

"Okay," she nodded, she'd vowed to let him do this in his own way, but it was hard not being able to talk to anyone about it.

"I love you, and this is going to be okay," Frank said. "But where's the stuff we got so Brian doesn't get a hold of it. It's the only thing that's worked."

"My suitcase," Denise replied rubbing her cheek on his chest.

"Okay, you going to be okay?" he asked. "Be my brave girl?"

She smiled. "Always."

"I love you," Frank whispered. "And if there was a point in fighting this I'd fight it, but there isn't."

She nodded again. "I love you more."

"I'm going to lie down just for a little while, maybe try to see what's going on with Dakota you always had a way with her."

"Because she is a lot like Molly," Denise said wistfully. She missed her daughter but she had to stand with her husband.

"I'd rather not discuss Molly if you don't mind," Frank sighed as he laid down. "Just a few...minutes." He was asleep before he finished the word

Denise smiled and went to talk to Dakota

She was on her bed trying on make up when Denise came in. "You don't need all of that precious."

"Oh yes I do," Dakota replied defensively. She hated how she looked.

"Why?" Denise asked her. "You are so pretty."

"No I'm not," she scoffed a little. She was far from pretty.

"Oh yes we are," she brushed back her hair. "Look like Aunt Molly and she's beautiful, isn't she?"

"Yeah," she replied smiling.

"Who's this boy you want to impress?" Denise asked. "Is he special like your grandpa?"

"Nobody," she said blushing slightly.

Denise laughed, "If you let Grandpa meet him, I'm sure he'll talk your Dad into it. And what was that before that grandpa can't tell you what to do? You know I don't like that."

She shrugged her shoulders but stayed silent.

Denise knew that meant she felt badly enough about it so she just gave her a hug. "Why don't you call your friend and I promise I'll make Grandpa be nice?"

She smiled. "Thanks Gram," she said.

"And, don't wear red lipstick, makes you look too old," Denise said as she left the room to find her son. She wanted Frank to tell him the truth, she needed to lean on her children now and soon, she'd need their help as well.

He was sitting in the kitchen holding the baby who was screaming.

Denise joined him at the table, "Sun's in his eyes," she told Jeremy and pulled down the shade. "Looks like my baby is a little unhappy too."

"I'm fine, Mom," he lied and put on a fake smile.

"Your father's napping," Denise felt if she led Jeremy there she'd not betray her husband's wishes.

He nodded.

"I'm pregnant," Denise threw in to see if he was listening.

"You what!" he nearly shouted.

Denise smiled, "So you are listening to me. You seem so far away, Jeremy. I know we just sprung this on you, sweetheart."

"It's fine, Mom, really. I'm glad you're here," he said with a smile to reassure her.

"Your Dad is worried about the kids," Denise sighed. "I'm worried about you. What's going on?"

"Nothing, everything's fine," he said.

Denise only nodded, "Us too. May I have my grandson please?" She loved the babies, all of them but the new ones she never had enough of snuggling them.

He smiled. "Sure." He gave her the baby.

Denise cuddled the baby then saw their 13 year old grandson Brian come out of his room. "Going out Dad," he told Jeremy. "Meeting Ted and Rick."

Jeremy nodded and the boy left the house.

Denise just looked at him. "He had two rolls of toilet paper shoved in that backpack."

"Did he?" he asked, he didn't even notice.

Denise nodded, "Yes he did."

Jeremy sighed and tried to go after his son but he was already gone

"Looks like this visit came right in the nick of time," Denise smiled. "You need a break, son. Are you working right now?"

"Not right now no." He knew his parents hadn't like the decision he and Tanya made about his working but that was just the way it was.

"Anything in the works, any projects, because if nothing is pressing, dad and I might hire you."

"Doing what?" he asked

"Designing us a new house of course," Denise looked at him like he had two heads. "We're thinking of moving closer to you and Tanya."

He smiled his first genuine smile for the first time since they arrived. "Sounds good."

"We'll talk about it later for now, why don't you go do something before you and Dad get into a fight?" Denise suggested.

"What?" he asked.

"Go do something before Dad wakes up and you two fight, you always fight when you're both grumpy and tired, I'll fix some dinner and watch the kids."

He chuckled but nodded, he needed out of the house.

Denise let him go fed the baby and checked on Lydia and Dakota. "When's your friend coming?" she asked the older girl. "Your dad went out."

"He's on his way," she said from her post in front of her mirror primping.

"I'll go wake up grandpa," she told her and went to get Frank up. He already was though and met her in the hall. "Dakota's young man is on his way. I told her if he met you we'd let her go out for a bit. Jeremy's taking some sanity time."

He sighed "Let's hope he isn't a punk," he said

"You okay?' She slipped her arms around him and held him tighter. "Tell me okay, tell me."

"I'm fine sweetheart," he said and kissed her forehead.

She fought tears, "No, you're not and I am not ready for this."

He saw the tears and held her tighter. "I can't handle this Frank."

"Yes you can," he assured her. "You are the strongest person I know. You can. I know I have the easy part, I know that, but you can do this, Baby. All right?" He had more faith in her than she had in herself. He always had.

"No, I can't," she said and started to cry.

Dakota popped out of her room and saw them, "He's here," she said looking at her grandparents. "Gram?" Denise did not cry, Dakota couldn't ever remember seeing her Gram cry now she'd done it twice in one day.

"She's fine, go on and let him in. We'll be there in a minute," Frank said.

"She doesn't cry, Grandpa," Dakota insisted. "I'll stay home I promise." She didn't understand her grandmother's tears.

"I'm fine sweetie, just having a rough day." Denise excused it and hoped Dakota was still enough of a child that she believed it.

Dakota went to let Trey in, she wasn't surprised that he'd gone and gotten a bouquet for her grandmother but it did surprise Frank.

"Hey," Dakota said smiling.

"Hello, so grandparents huh?" he asked. "I'm moving up." He gave her a big kiss. "Are they all old and deaf and stuff?"

"No!"she said laughing "They are worse than my Dad, so be afraid."

Frank appeared then without Denise and just stood there like a solid wall, intimidating, unyielding, staring this foe down.

"This is my Grandpa," she said politely introducing Frank.

Frank nodded once. "You are?"

"Trey," he replied.

"Nice to meet you," Frank sat down. "I'm not much on flowers."

He nodded. "You too, these are for her Grandma." He was nervous.

"My wife is with the baby," Frank replied. "Dakota bring those to grandma, will you please?"

"Sure," he said and left the men to talk.

"How old are you?" Frank felt like he had to pull words from this kid's mouth.

"17." He was brisk and polite, not offering anything more than what was asked.

"You drive?"

"Yes sir," he replied.

"And you're interested in my sixteen year old granddaughter why? I'm sure plenty of girls your age would like to date you," Frank was turning up the heat. This kid was too polite.

"Because I like her," he said. "She isn't like girls my age"

"She's innocent; she doesn't ask questions, is that it?" Frank turned it up a little more. "Why did you buy flowers for my wife? I was 17 once, I know how broke kids your age are. I know how broke my grandchildren are."

"I wanted to make a good first impression," he replied.

Frank sighed. "Thanks for your time tonight." He stood up and turned to leave, effectively dismissing the boy.

"So?"Dakota said when she saw her grandfather

"No," he said firmly. "I'd have preferred you bring home punk with purple hair and incorrectly spelled tattoos than that boy. "No. He's trouble, he's shifty, and he's dishonest. No."

"No he isn't," she said defensively.

Frank didn't want to fight her, "You can see him here, leave the doors open, I'll even pay for you to order in anything you want to eat, but that's it."

She sighed and rolled her eyes "Fine."

Frank heard her telling Trey the rules and he loudly replied, "He's really nice, I think it's fair." Frank just looked at his wife.

"I like that kid," Denise told him. "It was sweet what he did."

"He wants a quick score, when I was in school and it's the same thing now, the older senior boys get points for deflowering younger girls," Frank sighed. "He's good looking, got a car, why date an average looking 15 year old with no figure, no anything to speak of? She's a very sweet but vanilla girl, why?"

"Frank, she is built to kill and he is lucky to have her," she said. "Don't make a big deal out of this."

"She's flat as a board, Dee!" Frank replied. "She's got a shape, but she's not her grandmother's granddaughter if you know what I mean."

"Frank!" She was shocked and turned a little red.

"It's the truth," Frank replied. "I don't like him, I don't feel right about this."

"She'll be fine, relax," she said, laughing.

"He laughed, "I love you so much. There's trouble here."

"Frank, you be nice," she warned.

"I am being nice," he sighed. "Baby, where's my stuff I'm going to step outside." He hated painkillers and the ones he'd had didn't do anything for him.

"In my suitcase," she replied. "I love you to by the way"

"I love you too," Frank sighed. "You know the ironic thing about this?"

"What?" she asked still not releasing him..

"I'm smoking to relieve the symptoms of the disease I got from smoking," he chuckled. "Not smoking the same thing but...It's actually funny."

"Yeah." She put on a fake smile and held him tight. She didn't find any of this the least bit funny.

"I'm not ready to tell the kids, Dee," he sighed. "I thought so but there's too much going on." Just as he said that Brian appeared, "Grandpa, Dakota just left with Trey."

"Damn it!"He swore and tried to get out the door but Denise wouldn't let him go. "Let her go," she said.

"He's going to use her and hurt her Dee, I know it," Frank sighed. "I know it in my gut."

"No he won't," she soothed. "Don't go getting yourself all upset, you'll hurt."

Frank sighed, "Dee, please let go, I need to..."

She nodded and let him go, again on the verge of tears but held them back. This was not the way she pictured this part of her life, she didn't want this, she didn't want to be estranged from her daughter, she didn't want to be her husband's nurse, she just wanted…she didn't know what she wanted, just not this…Not this.

Frank went out back and half an hour later he was back inside and looked like he felt better. Denise wished he'd take the pain killers but he refused. She was about to ask him what he wanted for dinner when Tanya came inside. "Jeremy! The damn neighbors parked in the driveway again!"

Denise laughed "He went out for a bit."

"Denise?" Tanya was shocked. "That man! He didn't even tell me you were coming or clean up or..."

"He didn't know, we popped in as a surprise," she comforted. Tanya was always wound so tight, she always seemed to be trying to impress them even after 25 years.

Tanya nodded, "Who's in trouble?"

"Nobody," she chuckled.

She smiled again and went to hug her in-laws. "Good to see you, where are my kids?"

"In their rooms except for Dakota, she is with a friend," she fibbed not wanting to put anymore on the overloaded mother. She and Jeremy had a short courtship and long engagement, then another period before they started having their children. Jeremy Jonathan, JJ, was now 18, Dakota Renne 16, Lydia Michelle, a new 15, Brian Anthony, 13 and finally Theodore James, 19 months. In 25 years of marriage, Denise and Frank still swore Tanya was at least a little afraid they disapproved even after everything they'd done.

"And JJ is at band practice," Frank added.

"Okay." Tanya nodded and put her things down before visiting a few minutes and going to bed.

Jeremy stayed out the rest of the night, Dakota was home by ten and had a few clearly displayed "Love bites" on her neck. JJ was the only one still out when both sets of Sherwoods went to bed. Tanya was upset, "Why are they here? What did you tell them?"

"Nothing honey, they just came to visit," he told her.

"They don't just appear like that for no reason," she reminded him. "You and your dad are like oil and water."

"I know," he said. "Just try and relax. I can't figure Dad out, I've never been able to figure him out, he's got his reasons. Relax."

"I can't until I know why they are here," Tanya sighed.

"Calm down," Jeremy sighed, this was getting old.

"I can't, not with them here just visiting for now reason, your father doesn't do anything off a schedule," Tanya was working herself into a panic.

"Okay, if you must know I think my Mom is sick," Jeremy sighed. "Dad's holding her alot and Lydia and Dakota said she was crying and Lyd came to get Dad before cause Mom didn't feel well."

"Oh," she sighed. "Then I hope they are just visiting."

"And if they're here to tell us in person I'm guessing it's like a serious illness type of thing."

She sighed. "Let's hope not."

"I'm going to press dad when I get him alone," Jeremy replied. "I just hope she's not going to die. Not with all this other stuff."

She nodded and slid her arms around him. "Don't worry," she whispered. "It'll be okay."

"Does she look different to you?" He loved that she was holding him, things were so bad between them they rarely held each other.

"No, not really," she said thinking to the few minutes she saw her in-laws tonight.

"I'm being stupid right?" he asked. "They'd tell us, wouldn't they?"

"I don't know, I hope they would; especially if it was serious. "She laid on his shoulder, she rarely ever did that.

"I'll talk to Dad" Jeremy sighed. "They want to move closer to us, Mom asked me to design the house, maybe that's all, huh?"

"Yeah." She kissed his cheek and rolled over, "Try to get some sleep."

He nodded and laid down and closed his eyes.

Frank was tossing around in bed, "Something not right Dee. A lot of somethings."

"Frank honey, calm down," she said ."Nothing's wrong"

"Yeah, baby," he sighed. "Brian is thirteen and I will bet my life he's smoking pot. Dakota and that boy, he is trouble. I'm not sure what's up with Lydia but I bet there's something, Jeremy and Tanya, cut that tension with a knife, the only normal one is JJ and he's not going to be allow at my funeral with that hair."

"He is your grandson!" She was shocked he'd think such a thing never mind saying it.

"It's disrespectful!" He got out of bed and starting pacing. "This entire family is going to Hell in a hand basket. I've got to fix it."

Denise sighed and got up. "Not tonight you don't. Please calm down and lay back down, please"

"I can't calm down, baby, this is a mess and I have to fix it," he said again. "It has to be fixed, Dee."

"Okay we will fix it but not right now," she said and used what she knew would work. "I'm tired and I want to go to sleep and you hold me."

He nodded, "Okay. Okay, let's go to bed."

"Thank you," she said and lay back down.

He lay behind her and held her, "We'll fix it soon?"

"Yeah," she whispered. "We will."

He rubbed her arms and hair until he felt her fall asleep, he never achieved sleep that evening.