Disclaimer: I don't own The Penderwicks

Chapter 10 (Skye's POV)

Boxes. I was pretty sure I'd never seen so many in my entire life. And considering I'd moved just a little over a year ago proved that Jeffrey had way more stuff than I did. But I guess the one upside was that I had a perfect excuse for not lifting any of them. Though to be honest that was more of a downside than anything else. In fact, I was pretty sure I'd savor losing my "do nothing excuse." Especially since it meant Jeffrey's paranoia would go with it.

"Now I'm finally seeing a positive use for that tracking device mom threatened to put in my socks as a kid..." Jeffrey said as he poked and prodded through the boxes lining our new bedroom wall. "But you know what," he added with a smile as he righted himself. "I just won't wear socks today at all! How's that for shaking up the system?"

I kept my face mostly flat except for the slight smirk that threatened to appear. "Truly rebellious."

Jeffrey grinned all the more smugly "Would you expect any less from me Skye?"

I sighed as I dug in a box and tossed him a pair of socks. "Do you really want me to answer that?"

He opened his mouth to say something then closed it before silently slipping on the footwear. After he tied his shoelaces he turned back to me as he smoothed out a wrinkle on his shirt. Something about moving meant you'd basically look homeless for at least a week afterward.

"Well, just want more load of boxes, and the piano and we are officially moved in!"

"Tommy is gonna help you right?" I asked raising a slightly concerned eyebrow. Somehow I couldn't shake the image of Jeffrey flattened under his own instrument.

"And David. Personally I think he's just trying to earn points with Jane's family, but…"

I smirked playfully as I stuck my hands in my pockets. "Too bad you didn't think of doing that, huh?"

Stepping closer to me he leaned in to kiss my forehead. "Why bother when the fiercest Penderwick of the bunch was already hopelessly in love with me?"

I rolled my eyes. "I don't know if I'd say hopelessly…"

But he just waved his hand dismissively. "Well I would, as in hopelessly lost without each other."

I frowned playfully. "Why did I just get the sick feeling I married Jane by mistake…?"

He frowned right back. "Oh yes very funny. Anyway…" And it's right then that he took in a deep breath and I knew what was coming. It was the same speech that came every time he left. Be it for work or just to buy a gallon of milk. And honestly I wasn't sure if I'd survive hearing it for another few months, so I decided to cut to the chase.

"No Jeffrey, I don't plan on running with scissors, setting myself on fire, falling down the stairs, or drowning in some paranoid way only you could imagine."

He frowned then added. "Or lifting anything heavy, right?"

I heaved a sigh before begrudging a nod. "Yeah, or that." Then crossing my arms I stared at him hard. "And you don't plan on dying under that baby grand either, right?"

He smiled. "Don't worry, it is only a baby grand after all."

I rolled my eyes again as I pushed him toward the door. "Fine, but if you want to live to see yours then don't try lifting it on your own. And call Nick if you have to, you know David probably isn't much help." I shrugged. "I mean he means well but…"

Jeffrey smiled. "I know, he's an artsy type."

"Yeah, like you." I added with a smirk as I gave him one last shove.

With the front door now shut I couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief. It was nice getting a break from Jeffrey's constant worrying but I didn't figure the peace was going to last long. Because honestly it was all I could do to stop myself from trying to straighten the horrible mess that was our new house. Granted, I knew that a nice house was buried under all the boxes somewhere, but right now it mostly looked like the cluttered site of a natural disaster. It made me wonder how Jeffrey ever fit all this in his apartment to begin with.

Boxes were everywhere, not to mention a littering of sheet music that Jeffrey's presence seemed to collect like a shelf did dust. I was poking through what looked like an assortment of photo albums and "dummy" help guides Jeffrey had amassed, when I heard a box next to me rustle. I won't say I jumped a little, I won't comment on it at all. But I was startled enough to almost drop the stupidity guide to being suave. (Yeah don't even ask me when he bought that one…)

But a second later Treble popped his head out of the box and gave me a half asleep meow. Smiling a little I reached to scratch behind his ears. "Looks like you don't mind the mess…" I frowned playfully at him. "Well, that makes one of us anyway."

Putting the ridiculous guide book back down I reached for one of the albums. Sitting it on an end table I reached and pulled out another one and stacked it on top. Somehow all these boxes had a way of making me feel at least a little nostalgic too. As in, besides annoyed. I guess it made me think of how I'd felt when I was packing up my own stuff right before we got married. A lot had happened since then. A lot of crazy things that weren't all that different from how things were before. And then there were the things that were different enough to change everything forever...

Sitting down I grabbed one of the albums and flipped it open. Sometimes it was crazy to think just how little Jeffrey had changed over the years, or how little I had. We were both the same two people, but… But now we were going to be facing things we'd never even imagined. Or at least I hadn't imagined it… Maybe Jeffrey already had ever since that time he asked me if we'd get married someday. Maybe he'd wanted this all along? Maybe…

Well either way I didn't get much time to sit and think about it, because just then I heard the doorbell ring. I figured it was either the neighborhood welcoming committee (with hopefully cookies right?) or Jeffrey back for some reason. I knew he hadn't been gone quite long enough to have crushed himself under the piano, so I wasn't too worried about it possibly being Tommy delivering tragic news. Sitting down the album I walked through the maze of boxes and over to the front door. And I guess you could say I wasn't expecting who I saw standing there.

"M-Mrs. Tifton?" I stammered.

She smiled slightly as she peered over the rim of her thin framed glasses. "I suppose I could say the same, correct?"

I wasn't really sure how to answer that. I mean sure, I knew technically speaking the answer was yes, but admitting to it while staring at the only other Mrs. Tifton I'd ever known… It was a little much. So I settled for a half nod and an awkward gesture asking her to step inside. Her face didn't change as she stepped in and scanned the messy room. I frowned a little suddenly wanting to disappear. I almost reminded her that most of this chaos was her son's fault, but I'm pretty sure that argument had already been covered in one of Rosy's lectures.

So keeping quiet I stuck my hands back in my pockets and started rocking on my heels. I knew it was only a matter of moments before the silence got awkward the way it always did, but thankfully she spoke first.

"I was in the area on business, but I thought I'd stop by and see it for myself. Jeffrey told me you both were moving…" She didn't say anything for a second before she nodded I guess in approval. "It's very nice."

I felt myself swallow my last bit of nerves. I'd faced scarier things than my mother in law, I just needed to keep a cool head. "Would you like to see the rest?" I asked with a gesture toward the hall.

"Yes, thank you I would." She said with a slight nod.

So I did my best to navigate through the clutter and give her the official tour. Though besides the obvious kitchen and bathroom every roomed looked pretty much the same. Well...that and the nursery. Jeffrey had insisted on buying the furniture and moving it in before anything else. Even his crazy piano. So I didn't bother explaining what the room was for, because my tongue felt thick just thinking about it. And maybe hers did too, because she didn't say anything at first, she just stood there taking it all in. Then she slowly turned toward me looked like it was the first time she'd ever seen me. I kinda wished it was, I figured that would have been easier on both of us...

"How many more months before you're due?" She asked softly.

"Three." I answered simply. Usually numbers had a way of calming me, but this one just made my head felt like it was going to explode. Like each day that went by more and more pressure was filling up my brain. Maybe it was because none of it seemed real, and yet each day it was closer to being just that. Not that it wasn't already…

"Names?" She asked just as simply in return.

I hesitated for a second. I hadn't even run my idea past Jeffrey yet and I was going to tell his mom? I guess most of all I felt worried because Astra seemed so much like me. It was a name that stood for what was important to me. I guess I was still wondering if Mrs. Tifton was just tolerating that…

"Uh Jeffrey is going to name the boy, but he hasn't decided yet." I knew it was a dodge that she'd probably see through, but it was at least worth a shot I guess.

"What about the girl, are you picking her name?"

I wanted to frown but I held myself back. Truthfully I wanted to avoid this question, but that just made me wonder why. I mean she may have been my mother in law, but we were talking about my daughter. And maybe, just maybe she really would turn out to be like me... Right about now I wanted to be proud of that.

"Astra." I said resolutely as I looked Mrs. Tifton in the eyes.

Her face didn't change at first than a slight hint of a smile came to her. "Latin I believe?"

I nodded but didn't say anything else.

"Well, it seems regal." She smirked slightly but it wasn't unfriendly. "And a great deal like you."

"Thanks," I said softly with a hint of a grin myself.

Adjusting her glasses with a gentle touch she looked at me with a deeper look. "It seems the time has flown, hasn't it? And I'm afraid you'll notice that it only goes faster after they're born." She shifted where she stood slightly and glanced back at the two cribs. "But sadly that can't be avoided it seems…" When she fell silent for a few seconds I figured she was thinking about Jeffrey. I knew I'd heard most parents say that their kids grew up too fast, and I could kinda get that even from the kids point of view, but now… Now it seemed easier to understand it.

It seemed like just the other day that I had found out and was trying to choke it out to Jeffrey. Or yesterday since we were married even. But now… I nodded. "Yeah...I'm kinda getting that now…"

She smiled a little distantly. "So you know Skye, I'm not upset that my Jeffrey married you."

I admit that kinda caught me off guard so I didn't do much besides stare at her.

"Or I should say not anymore at least." She added with a slight laugh. Then her demeanor went serious. "It seems everything he ever thought about you is true after all. All the times he tried to argue his point about you…" She laughed a little sadly to herself. "It seems time has proved his point…"

All I felt was awkward, and no matter how I tried absolutely nothing was coming to mind to say. But I guess she spoke for both of us.

"I… That is to say I'd like to be a part of my grandchildren's life." Her face fell a little and her tone shifted into a soft desperation. "Jeffrey is all I've ever had… But I'm afraid he would say that all he's ever had is you. The truth is I always assumed Jeffrey and I were close, but I… I've learned differently as the years have passed, and because of that I'm afraid his children will largely follow their father's opinion."

Somehow it felt like this was a conversation that should have been between her and Jeffrey, but like it or not I was stuck in the middle of it. In the middle and actually feeling sorry for her…

"Uh I can't speak totally for him but…" I swallowed the lump in my throat and went on. "But I know he does um care about you... It's just…" Closing my eyes I spoke for the both of us. "He's just still hurting I guess…"

"Right, I understand that… Especially considering how he adores his father." She fell silent again as I watched ripples of emotion flow over her face. I wasn't sure what to do or say. I wasn't even sure how I felt about it all myself.

"I adored him once myself you know…" The words slipped from her like every syllable was a knife. "But people are often driven to actions that can only stand to hurt others. Even if those others are the very ones they care about the most. And perhaps sometimes you don't even realize you are hurting anyone until it's too late. Until the damage is already done." She frowned and straightened her glasses before she stepped toward the doorway.

"At any rate, thank you for your hospitality. Please tell Jeffrey hello for me…"

For a few long seconds all I could seem to do was watch her walk away. Then I got my feet in gear and followed her to the front door. But before I could open I knew I had to say something… Maybe even anything at all…

"You know…" I started hesitantly. "Even with everything that's happened you're still…" I frowned and then gathering all my courage I looked up at her. "You're still his mom, right? I mean he's still a part of you… And...and so are his kids."

She just smiled slightly before stepping out the door. "Thank you dear."

And just as quickly as she had come she had left. The whole visit felt like a whirlwind that had just dropped me more confused than I was before. I guess I'd never thought a whole lot about Jeffrey's relationship with his mom. I was usually too concerned on how not to make a bigger mess of my own with her. But the fact was I didn't understand what it must be like for either of them. I couldn't really imagine what it would be like to not be close to your family. But from the beginning that's why Jeffrey had been drawn to us wasn't it? Because we represented something he'd never seen in person before.

He wanted a family… Instead of never knowing his father like he had for a good part of his life. Instead of the bitter sweet relationship he had with his mom. Losing my mom was the hardest thing I ever experienced, but maybe a part of me wondered if it was harder for Jeffrey. If it was harder because Mrs. Tifton had hurt him so badly, and yet was still his mother? They were still as much a part of each other as I was with… Well, with our new family.

I wished I could just have everything explained to me. Like why you always hurt the people you love the most. But as it was I settled for thumbing through that old photo album again while Treble slept beside me. By the time Jeffrey got back I was emotionally exhausted and was ready to forget the whole topic, but I guess my face was having a little harder time letting it go. So by the time the piano and all the rest of the boxes were unloaded I guess I looked like someone had just died. I think Jeffrey noticed but he didn't bother mentioning it until Tommy and everyone had left.

"Are the kiddos in a revolt?" He asked a little playfully as he gently placed a hand on my stomach.

I wanted to just follow his lead into friendly banter, but I couldn't quite get my mind off of everything Mrs. Tifton had said… But even so I guess I was surprised at how direct I was when I finally did open my mouth. "Your mom stopped by while you were gone."

His eyebrows shot up. "She was in town?"

I nodded a little somberly. "Yeah, she said on business or something…" But when I got quiet after that the worried on his face just expanded.

"Skye, what happened?" He asked seriously.

I sighed. "Nothing happened, I mean I didn't punch her out or something if that's what you think? Why do you always think that anyway?" I asked a little flustered.

He held his hands out defensively. "I actually didn't say that. Just tell me what happened. Why are you so uptight? Did she say something about you or-"

Now I held my hand out to calm him down. "Hey actually I didn't say that either. Besides…" I stood and started pacing in between the boxes. "She mostly wanted to talk about you."

"Go on." He said with a nod and now his arms crossed.

How was I supposed to word this? How was I going to condense all that emotion from this afternoon into a couple sentences. Like that would make any sense to Jeffrey? I wasn't a writer, but right now I really wished I were.

I huffed out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know. She was talking about how she wants to be a part of our kid's lives or something. I mean about how she worries you might not want her to be since uh…" I fumbled for how to put it gently, but in the end I just went for spitting it out. "Since you two aren't that close and all…"

He just stared at me for a minute as if it was all trying to register. Then he frowned deeper. "Who said we aren't close?" This time I just looked at him without saying anything. Then after a moment or two he caved in and heaved a sigh.

"Okay fine, I've probably said it before... But that doesn't mean I hate her or anything. And besides she should talk to me about it. You're in no condition to be upset!" He said with a rare angry tone.

I just looked at him calmly. "Jeffrey I'm fine." I shrugged. "Which seems like more than I can say for you…"

He sighed again as if he was trying to drain off the negative emotions building on his face. "Okay yeah I know, you're right." He ran a hand through his messy hair. "I only have like one weakness and it's my mother."

I grinned a little in hopes he'd follow. "Just one?"

Letting go of another frustrated sigh he smirked a little bit. "Okay yes, and that whole green banana allergy, but whatever…"

Walking over I jabbed him softly in the shoulder as I tried to loosen him up a little. "I really don't think she believes you hate her Jeffrey. She just…" I tried to feel for the right words. "I think she's just surprised at how much life has changed. I mean how you grew up and everything…"

He chewed his bottom lip a little, while I went on. "And I kinda get that, I mean life does seem like it happens pretty fast. Almost like too fast, you know?"

He nodded slowly. "Yeah I know, I mean I kinda know if I try and apply it to our kids."

"Right, well that's basically where she's coming from is all. She uh, just wants to…" I thought for a second before everything seemed to click together. "To be a better grandmother than she was mother. Like maybe she's trying to make it up to you or something."

He didn't say anything for a while before he slowly sunk down into the only empty spot on our sofa. "Okay fine, I'll call her… Just not tonight, because I think I've never been so exhausted in my whole life…"

"Baby grand?" I asked with a smirk.

He nodded weakly. "It felt more grand than baby…"

I smiled as I slipped onto the piano bench and poked at a random key. "Yeah, something tells me most pianist never move or something."

He smirked. "Well, let's just say I have no objections to letting this be it's final resting place."

I tapped another key as my short time taking lessons from Batty halfway filtered into my head. "I don't know, what if this piano is your legacy or something?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh so you're thinking at least one of our progeny might just be a prodigy? In the musical sense anyway?"

I shrugged again. "I don't know… But I guess anything is possible."

Jeffrey leaned into his hand and I was relieved to see his old smile reappear. "That has me thinking, I never did tell you the name I was considering."

I turned to look at him closer. "Neither did I."

His face lit up. "Oh cool, you first!"

I wanted to laugh at how much of a little kid himself he looked right now. "I was thinking about Astra. It's Latin and basically means stars or something."

"Astra, Astra…" He smiled as he said it a few times. Then finally he proclaimed: "I like it! In fact, I think it is one of the few names illustrious enough for the daughter of the Skye Penderwick."

I smiled, guessing I'd just take that as a compliment. "So what name do you have in mind for the boy?"

He smiled smugly and then cleared his throat for effect. "Timothy."

"Timothy?" I repeated a little confused. "There's a famous classical musician named that?"

He opened his mouth and then closed it again before shrugging. "I don't actually think so, at least not off the top of my head. But you know I figured 'Jeffrey' wasn't a famous name until I came along either, right? I thought it might be best to give him a name he could make famous himself."

I laughed. "No pressure, right?"

Jeffrey smirked. "Well, famous in a relative sense anyway. As far as I'm concerned he's already born into fame as our descendant. And he might not even have an ear for music." He winked at me. "He could grow up to be a brilliant astrophysicist instead, like some people I know."

I shook my head with a smile. "I'm not brilliant, I'm just...curious enough to want to understand it all…"

"Are so brilliant…" Jeffrey mumbled before he leaned back and closed his eyes. He was right, the piano really had worn him out because in nothing flat he was sound asleep.

I smiled a little as I watched Treble crawl into his lap and join him in unconsciousness. I guess the truth was the biggest thing I was curious about was just who Timothy and Astra would turn out to be. The possibilities were almost endless, just like trying to add up the stars in the sky. You could have kept at it forever and still had a long way to go. I guess I figured getting to know someone was the same way…

And maybe, there was always an eternity waiting to give us all a chance to set things right. I hoped so anyway. I hoped it for Mrs. Tifton, and for all of us. But most of all I wanted it for my own kids…

Forever, just for them…

Sorry again for the lateness of this update! Somehow both my computer and car broke in the same week... Anyway, as they say, the show must go on! Or in this case the story, so hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. More coming soon!