I've just realised that all these chapters are really quite short, then I remembered that I write them all on my phone during my lunch breaks and bus rides so I'm going to try not to feel too awful about only giving you snapshots. Also, kept being assaulted by mental images of Scott in jeans, a leather jacket and riding a motor bike the whole time I was writing this. I keep telling myself no, but I don't think my brain is actually listening.

There is one woman who has raised two generations of Tracy men, undaunted and unbroken by a task which would have left many overwhelmed. Ruth Tracy is a very unique kind of woman and she has often told Scott that if she could handle Jeff as a child, the five youngest Tracys were never going to be a problem. So it is to his Grandma that Scott goes for advice on how best to help Hollie.

Most women, Ruth points out when he tells her about Ashwyn, have friends and family nearby to help them. Most women will have the child's father to help ease some of the burden and nearly all of them will have had months to prepare. While Scott knows that Hollie has many friends who have given what help they can, the fact of the matter is that she is alone most of the time.

"I doubt that poor girl has even been able to take a shower without fretting herself about her niece. It's a terrible burden to put on a person," she turns sharp eyes on her eldest grandson. Scott had presented the situation to her as though eager to help a friend and in the interest of the welfare of his best friend's daughter. Now he thinks that maybe he should have known that he could not fool her. "Of course, if you asked her to come to the island she'd have all the support she'd need." Ruth passes him a pillow case to fold.

"It's probably not the best time for me to ask her that, Grandma," he admits and the older woman nods. Asking her to move in with him so soon after her taking in Ashwyn would only add to her stress and the last thing that he wants to do is upset her any further. "I just want to help her relax a little bit and I don't know how to do that short of bringing her here or leaving International Rescue." He shakes his head. "I wouldn't turn my back on the guys and father and she isn't ready to come here yet."

"A night off?" Ruth suggests, smiling at her grandson. She can see that he has put a lot of thought into this, can see that he obviously cares for this woman. "If you find a sitter you could take her out to dinner."

Scott smiles at that, at the thought of a quiet evening for just the two of them. Under normal circumstances he would not have hesitated in going to Virgil for advice, but this is so far from normal. None of the boys know a thing about taking care of babies, know anything about the kind of strains that it puts on the parents, and therefore asking his brother how to help Hollie relax would be like asking Virgil how to bake a cake.

"Grandma," Scott is halfway to the door before he turns back to her. "Would you take care of Ashwyn for us? I think Hollie would be more comfortable with it being you instead of a complete stranger."

"Of course, dear," Ruth does not stop the wide smile from finally breaking free. It is a rare and impulsive sign of affection that has Scott sweeping his grandmother into a hug. Scot cares deeply for his family, something that is more often shown by his protective nature than physical contact, and Ruth take it as a sign of just how deeply he cares about Hollie.

"Thanks, Grandma," he whispers before leaving the room. The Tracy matriarch watches him leave with a gentle smile. She remembers seeing those same emotions in Jeff's eyes when he met Lucille. Scott has a different set of obstacles to overcome, as far as Ruth knows Hollie does not have a father objecting to his daughter marrying the penniless son of a farmer, but it is good to see that Scott understands that Hollie and Ashwyn now come together. It is good to know that at least one of her grandsons may find that happiness that all of them deserve, now if only there was a way to give Alan such a kick start.

Ruth remembers Hollie, from before International Rescue, she remembers how Scott used to talk about her when he called her. There was a time when the Tracy matriarch had honestly believed that Scott would have married her and it came as something of a shock to hear that the young woman had not wanted to move to the island when her grandson had asked. With Scott now in his early thirties, and Hollie not far behind, Ruth had begun to wonder if her eldest grandson would ever have the chance to find another person who had made him smile in the same way that Hollie had. While worried about how this relationship could turn out, worried that Scott could once again be hurt should Hollie refuse to move to the island at all, she finds herself so much more hopeful that her grandsons might well have that happiness that their father once knew.

She has every intention of ensuring it.

Artemis