See you in the Fall Chapter Ten. By ZARAelizabeth.
Grace worked her butt off for 6 hours before she lay down on the floor. Sasha walked over to her. He sat down next to her. Summer had closed the doors and put the closed sign there. She then walked over to the pair with a sleeping Riley.
"How was your training?" Sasha asked. Grace nodded.
"I'm pooped. It felt amazing being back out there though," Grace said with a smile.
"So what made you change your mind?" Summer asked.
"Mom," Grace said. Sasha looked at her.
"Mom as in your mom, mom or as in Kate mom?" he asked.
"As in Kate mom. She woke up and was annoyed I hadn't been training. I'm glad she made me come back and train though. It felt good like this is where I belong," Grace said. Summer took this opportunity to mention about what Conner had said.
"I overheard you say to Conner that you were going to quit. Are you still going to?" Summer asked.
"I don't think so," Grace said.
"Wait you were going to quit? Why?" Sasha asked shocked.
"Well because I felt like it was all my fault that this happened. I mean they were coming to see me," Grace said. "If I hadn't been here at the gym than would they still be in that accident? Would I have been there with them? All these unanswered questions keep running through my head. I can't sleep at night without crying myself to sleep!" Grace said. Sasha was surprised. He had never thought that Grace would open up to him this easily.
"And I mean then there's Laura. What did Laura ever do? I mean she was 8 years old. She barely saw the world! She wanted to compete with her gymnastics. She wanted to win a gold. She wanted to be just like me," Grace said in tears now. "She died before any of this could happen. How was that fair? How is it fair that I live on and she died?" Grace asked no one in particular. Sasha pulled her into a hug.
"Grace none of this is your fault. The guy that did this is behind bars! Grace what happened could have happened to anyone. What happened to Laura, yeah it sucks but that could have been any 8 year old out there," Sasha said.
"Yeah but I wasn't. You never expect it to happen so close to home and when it does, it breaks your heart!" Grace said. Sasha nodded. He hugged her tighter. He really didn't know what to say to her. He looked at Summer but she was grabbing Riley's things.
"Grace I think you need to tell the girls what's going on. They have been freaking out for the past week and a half. They do have a right to know. They can give you more support than what I can give you," Sasha said. Grace nodded. She knew they deserved to know. They would be pissed when they found out but then Grace need her time to cool off and work it all out.
CASTLE
The Hospital.
Grace walked into Kate's room after her chat with Sasha. She hadn't called the girls yet but she would do it in the morning. Kate was playing a game with Riley and Massie. Massie had been moved into a room with Kate.
"Hey Mom," Grace said as she walked in.
"Hey Grace. You wanna play?" Kate asked. Grace shook her head no. She came and sat on Kate's bed. She laid her head on Kate's shoulder. "Bad day?" Kate asked.
"It's just got to me," Grace said. Kate nodded. She knew that it would get to Grace the most because she was left here alone to deal with it. She had only had Conner. And even he couldn't stop Grace freaking out the whole time.
"Grace I need to know, how is everyone else?" Kate asked almost dreading the answer. Grace sighed. Did she know about Laura or was Grace the one to have to tell her?
"Well Alexis and Castle are in comas and well Laura, Laura died on impact," Grace said. Kate's eyes widened. Okay so she didn't know Grace thought.
"What?" Kate asked. Grace nodded with tears in her eyes. Kate hugged her close and they both cried. Massie and Riley joined in the hug. They stayed that way for about an hour.
Sam walked into Kate's room.
"Grace can I speak to you please," Sam asked. Grace nodded and walked out the door.
"So what's wrong?" Grace asked getting straight to the point.
"Grace I have some news. The first lot both Richard and Alexis are awake and the second lot is that well I have to get you to take Massie to physio and get Riley outta here because I have to talk to Kate," Sam said. Grace nodded. She walked back in.
"Come on Massie, you have physio and Riley you and I are going to see Castle and Alexis," Grace said. Sam was standing behind Grace. Grace mouthed text me to Kate and then she left.
After Grace, Massie and Riley had left Sam walked over and sat on the side of Kate's bed.
"Kate, I have some news. Most people will see it as good news but I don't know how you are going to take the news," Sam started. Kate looked at him. "You're pregnant," Sam said. Kate looked shocked. Sam took this opportunity to give Kate her phone.
"I saw Grace mouth for you to text her," Sam said. Kate nodded.
"Thanks," Kate said. She started to text Grace.
Gracie, I need u here 2 help me thro this. I'm pregnant!
A few seconds later Kate had a reply.
EKKKK! WTF! KATEE! :O
Kate laughed at her reply. She was about to text her back when Grace came running through the door.
"MOM!" Grace screamed.
"Where's Riley?" Kate asked.
"With Castle and Alexis. They've been put in the same room," Grace said. "But that is not important right now. PREGNANT?" Grace said loudly.
"Grace, inside voice," Kate said.
"You're going to have to tell him," Grace said after a few minutes of silence.
"I know but I don't wanna stress him," Kate said.
"Why would that stress him? He does have 5, 4 kids," Grace said sadly. Kate nodded.
"If it's a girl can we name her after Laura? Give her Laura as a middle name?" Grace asked a few minutes of silence. Kate nodded.
"I think that, that would be perfect. Plus Laura would love it," Kate said. "First I have to have an ultrasound," Kate said. Grace nodded.
"Yeah. I should probably go get Riley and talk to Castle. Kinda didn't say anything to him," Grace said. Kate looked at her. "Yeah well I kinda said what loudly then ran," Grace said. Kate nodded.
"He's probably having a fit!" Kate said. Grace laughed.
"Haha yeah so I'm gonna go talk to him. Text me if you need me. I'll be back soon and in about 5 Massie will be here," Grace said as she gave Kate a hug and kiss. She walked out and then to Castle and Alexis's room.
CASTLE
A few weeks later. Funeral.
Grace looked at the dress sitting on her bed. She had her bath robe on and was sitting at her make-up table. Kate walked in and stood beside Grace.
"Hey," Kate said. She was already in her dress and had her hair straight and down.
"Hi," Grace said.
"Do you want me to do your hair?" Kate asked.
"Okay," Grace said. Kate took her hair tie out. Kate curled Grace's hair and pulled a few bits up and pined them. She put a beautiful white flower in her hair to finish the style. Grace smiled and thanked her mom. She walked over and grabbed her dress.
Her dress was black strapless dress which had a white sash and white bow. She put it on and looked in the mirror. This all didn't seem right to her. She should be at nationals training and not getting ready to bury a sister. She walked back over to her make-up table and put her necklace and bracelets on. She walked over and grabbed her shoes. She walked downstairs and into the lounge room where everyone was seated.
"Are you ready?" Castle asked.
"No," Grace said. "Will I ever be?" Grace asked. Kaylie pulled her into a hug.
Kaylie, Emily, Payson and Sasha walked in together and sat down near the front. They waited for the music to be played. It started to play and Kate, Castle, Grace, Alexis, Massie and Riley came in followed by Laura's coffin. They walked in and sat in the front row. The priest started the ceremony. Lanie spoke on behalf Kate. Grace, Massie and Riley all made speeches about their little sister. Sasha spoke about Laura's gymnastics. After a photo presentation and a poem Laura was taken to the cemetery and buried along side her mom and dad.
CASTLE
A few months later. The house.
Grace was lying on the concrete surrounding their pool sun baking. Emily and Payson beside her. Lauren and Kaylie were in the pool with Massie. They were having fun and laughing. Kate walked out the back door with Alexis and Riley. Castle wasn't far behind with drinks and food.
"Girls what are you doing?" Kate asked looking at Emily, Payson and Grace lying on the concrete in their bikinis.
"Sun baking," Grace said. Kate laughed.
"Trust you to skip training for this!" Kate said with a laugh.
"Wait you're skipping training?" Castle said. "I thought you never skipped training!" He said again.
"Well when you were, as you put it 'taking a nap', I was left to freak out and stay at the hospital 24/7 for like a week and then I trained once a week for a couple of weeks and I have been back full time for a month," Grace said. Castle nodded.
"Right. Well Conner called. He's coming here after his mom drops his sister off at the rock," Castle said. Grace nodded.
"GRACE! Girl you have some things you have things to explain to us!' Kaylie said.
"Yeah you never told us about how you met Conner," Emily said. Grace smiled and blushed.
"Well there isn't really that much to tell. We met at the hospital and the first thing he said to me was 'not a good day,'" Grace said with a laugh.
"Then what?" Lauren asked smiling.
"Well we started to talk and then he held my hand when I went to see mom for the first time and he was supportive and helped me keep Riley entertained," Grace said.
"Aww!" Kaylie said getting out of the pool and going to hug her best friends. Grace saw this stood up and ran. "Come on Grace you know you wanna get wet!" Kaylie said as she ran after her. Grace ran into the house when the doorbell rang. She opened the door and saw Conner.
"Hey Conner!" Grace said giving him a hug.
"Hey gorgeous," Conner said walking in the door. Kaylie caught up with her. Kaylie looked at Conner then back at Grace with a mischievous smile.
"Hey Conner, you wanna do me a favor?" Kaylie asked. Grace looked at her.
"NO! NO! NO!" Grace said.
"Depends what it is," Conner said.
"Get Grace wet?" Kaylie said.
"Sure!" Conner said picking her up bridal style and walking out into the pool area and dumping her in the pool. When Grace resurfaced she looked daggers at both Conner and Kaylie.
"You guys are so dead!" Grace said as she grabbed Conner's foot and pulled him in. Conner laughed and grabbed Grace's feet underwater and pulling her under.
Castle put his arms around Kate and smiled. This was the family life. He loved it already and couldn't wait for them to get married and for it to be legal.