Title: Oracle

Author: Sami Marie

Genre: Family/Friendship With a bit of romance and drama possibly thrown in

Pairings: None at the moment but there will be a lot of mentions of Morgan/Garcia

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Sequel to Rock Solid. Story is set 18 years down the road and will be told from Mags, Morgan and Garcia's daughter, point of view.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter everyone and with that in mind here's the next chapter. We're back in Mags' current universe once again so that means more Mags and Henry. Enjoy and as always keep the reviews coming my way!

Chapter 9:

Not long after we arrived back at the house from the funeral my dad disappeared for a good three or four hours. During that time I kept looking over at my mom who kept mouthing back to me, "He'll be home soon."

It was dark when he arrived back and I have to admit he did look a little better than he had looked during Grandma's funeral. Flashing what I believe was his first smile of the day he sat down next to Mom on the couch and wrapped an arm around her.

"See you worry too much," Henry leaned in and whispered in my ear.

"I know," I whispered back, "I'm just not used to seeing him so upset."

Henry nodded and about an hour later all of us emotionally drained and exhausted turned in for the night.

The next morning…

"You actually slept, I'm shocked," I heard Eliza say as I slowly opened my eyes.

Turning to face her I found her staring at me with our father's signature inquisitive look, "Yeah occasionally I do that just ask Henry."

She nodded, "Yeah you bring up a valid point, he of all people would know."

"What's that supposed to mean," I asked praying that she wasn't getting on board with the train of people who though Henry and I should just get together already.

"Oh nothing,' She said with mom's innocent grin before heading towards the kitchen.

Shaking my head I soon joined her in the kitchen and as I sat down I realized I was the last to wake up. "What?' I asked as I sat down because everyone was staring at me.

"Nothing," They all replied as they returned to eating their breakfast.

After breakfast was over with we began with heavy hearts a task none of us were really looking forward to. The truth of it though it was something that had been done. Apparently Grandma Fran had wanted the house to be sold but judging by the looks on my dad and my aunts faces' as we began to go through stuff in the house that was the last thing any of them wanted.

"Derek," My Aunt Sarah said as she began boxing up books that lined the bookcase near the fireplace in the living room.

"Yeah," My dad said as he thumbed through another photo album.

"I was talking to Michael last night," She began.

He nodded urging her to continue.

"And he suggested that since you and Des don't actually live in Chicago anymore that maybe we should move in here. Otherwise if we don't sell it then it's just going to sit here empty," She finished explaining.

When she was finished my dad nodded before saying, "Sar he's right, I'm not in any position to move back home as much as I would like to I've got two kids I don't want to uproot right now. Therefore if you want it the house is yours."

My Aunt Des spoke up then as well, "Yeah sis, mom deep down would want it to stay in the family she just thought selling it would be easier on all of us."

"Alright," My Aunt Sarah agreed as she got back to work with a hint of a smile on her face.

It was a smile I think all of us smiled at least once during the course of the day. Knowing that the house was going to remain in the family made us all feel a little better. It was almost as if, if the house remained full all of us then she would remain with us. So with that in mind I spent much of Sunday helping when and where I could because come tomorrow the rest of the work would be all on them since Henry and I were flying back to California tomorrow.

Later on that night I was repacking my bag when my dad approached me, "Hey angel," He said as I zipped my bag.

"Hey Daddy, how you doing," I asked as I turned to face him.

'I'm hanging in there, how about you?" Was his honest reply.

"I miss her," I answered back just as honestly before going onto say, "Did you know she'd never been to the beach. I was going to fly her out to California next month for her birthday and take her to the beach for the day. Henry and I had it all planned out."

"She would've loved it," He said as he pulled me into a hug.

"I was really hoping so, but now I'll never know," I replied back as choked back a sob.

"She okay," Henry asked as he stuck his in.

My dad nodded, "She was just telling me what you guys had planned for next month."

"Oh," Was all Henry said as realization dawned on him.

"Hey I'm good," I reassured them both as I pulled away and gave my two favorite men a soft smile.

"Alright, just wanted to let you know we're going to leave here about ten," Henry replied as walked over and planted a good night kiss on the top of my head.

"Don't worry I'll be ready," Was my response as he left the room.

Once he was gone I noticed my dad just shaking his head at me, "Don't," I warned.

"Don't what," Was his reply, "I'm not you mom or his mom for that matter."

"Sorry I just get sick of all the insinuations he and I should just go get married and have 20 kids already," I apologized.

"You better not I don't think I'm ready for that quite yet," My dad remarked.

"Neither am I so I can reassure you I won't be marrying anyone anytime soon," I agreed.

My dad smiled at that, "Good tell Henry I said to keep on keeping all the boys away from you."

I rolled my eyes at that because if a guy even looked at me on campus Henry was ready to kill him. "I don't need to."

My dad nodded before saying, "Alright then good night."

"Good night Daddy," Was my reply.

As he walked away the words him and my mom had said the day I felt for college last fall something along the lines that knowing he was there made easier on them for me to be so far away from home.