Next chapter folks!
A huge sorry for how long it has been for this chapter to be uploaded. I know what it is like when stories don't get updated in ages, and you start to get annoyed.
Thanks for sticking with it.
Big thanks to my beta reader Laura.
Thank you for all of the reviews and the emails
Hope you enjoy this one.
Next chapter is the last one.
"So what do your parents do then?" Neil asks, perched on the sofa. He'd just realised that he hardly knows anything about Grace's family life, and more importantly, he doesn't know what to expect upon meeting them.
"Well my mother is recently retired, she was a teacher, but now she's more of the permanent babysitter for my nephews. My father owns his own company," she says thoughtfully, squinting at the coffee table. "He deals with computers and bits like that, and my brother runs a consultancy company; not sure if he'll be there or not though," He makes a little noise in the back of his throat, nodding absently when she glances his way. The coffee table really is interesting.
"So you're the only police officer then?"
"Yeah," she nods, "they're okay with it- although, my father does wish I'd leave." She nearly laughs when his eyes widen and he looks up at her with something akin to panic. "Don't worry, I'm not leaving my job," she chuckles.
Relaxing at her words, Neil swings his arm around her, pulling her close. "Good, I can't be losing you now I finally have you, can I?" He pauses, "So... I have nothing to worry about with your parents, they aren't going to give me the third degree, 'the talk', or show me any embarrassing pictures of you, right?" he asks hesitantly.
She laughs, burying her face in the side of his neck, "No, you should be alright." Hearing a car pull up outside, Grace peers out of the window "We'll find out soon though, car's here,"
Gathering up the bags they both proceed to walk out of the door towards the car.
"Paul!" Grace says "How are you? I haven't seen you in a very long time," she greets him with a hug.
"Hey Grace," he smiles, hugging her in return. "Yeah, not too bad. The boss gave me some time off, we've had another kid," he beams.
"Oh, congratulations! I'll have to ring Helen and speak with her," she steps back, grinning.
"Yeah, she'll love that," Looking over her shoulder, he spies Neil standing stiffly with the bags, looking most decidedly out of place. "So, you going to introduce me then?" he nods toward Neil with a raised brow.
"Oh yes, Paul this is Neil, Neil this is Paul. He works for my father," Grace introduces the pair.
After the men greet each other warily, Paul loads the bags in the boot. "Shall we get going then?" Grace asks.
"Yup, your father is awfully anxious to see you Gracey, so we better make a move," Paul chuckles, sliding into the drivers seat.
The car journey was pretty quiet, both over-run with their own thoughts of what they would expect when they got there, and Paul just cranked up the radio.
Pulling up outside the house a couple of hours later, Neil swallows down the nerves that have risen up. "Grace..." He breathes, looking from the house to her and back again, "What did you say your dad did again?" He didn't squeak. He definitely didn't. The house is huge! – Actually, that's an understatement, it's bloody massive!
Looking back over at Grace when he gets no answer, he sees that she has become quite nervous, chewing her lip and not making eye contact with him. Taking her hand Neil shifts in his seat turning to her. "What's wrong?"
Looking up Grace catches Paul's eye; with a quick affirmative nod, he exits the vehicle leaving them alone. "Neil, listen; my family are- they are quite rich, I don't uh- not many people really know,"
Rich? I'd have never have guessed, what with the castle-sized house an all! "Grace, don't worry about it, I don't want you for your family money, you know that," He squeezes her hands, trying to reassure her. "I didn't even know, see?"
Seeing her still unsure, he lightens the mood a bit. "Y'know," he pauses dramatically and puts on a face of mock suspicion, "I am an inspector, I do earn a fair bit of money myself… How do I know you aren't with me for my money?" He grins when she smirks.
"Damn, I was hoping I could keep that a secret," she chuckles. Leaning over and placing a kiss on his lips, she sticks her hand on the door handle. "You ready then?"
He nods hesitantly, "As I will ever be," he flashes a quick grin.
Getting out of the car Neil walks around to the other side before Grace can get out herself. Opening the door he helps her out, holding her hand "Just promise me one thing?" he whispers into her ear. Seeing her questioning look he carries on "Don't leave me alone," he says. He didn't plead. Nope. Definitely not.
She smirks evilly, "Aw, come now, you're a big boy, you could handle it."
"Please," he whines. "I can feel the stares already burning into my skull,"
Laughing, she looks over his shoulder and spies her mother and father standing at the front door. She glances back to Neil who had gone a little paler, "Come on," she whispers, half dragging him with her.
Standing stiffly at the foot of the steps Neil watches Grace greet her mother and father with hugs. Just seeing her with them Neil can tell straight away that she is relaxing. Pulling away, she turns to him – or rather, she waves an arm in his direction.
"Neil, this is my Father Jamal and my mother, Jesminder. Mum, Dad, this is Neil, he-uh, I asked him to accompany me," she frowns. What do I call him; boyfriend? Sounds like I'm a kid again! Partner? Is that too worky? Guess I'll have to talk to him about that.
Snapping out of her thoughts she watches Neil greet her father with a handshake.
"Pleasure to meet you Sir," Neil says firmly, trying to keep his nerves down. Kinda hot all of a sudden. He thinks, trying desperately not to tug at his collar. I feel like a bloody teenager!
"Yes, well Gracie hasn't said a lot about you, so I'll see," Jamal replies, releasing his hand. Looking over to Grace, he sees that she is glaring daggers at him. If looks could kill? He'd be on the floor right now. Same glare as her mother.
"Oh don't you be listening to him dear, he just woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Grace's mother assures him in the comforting voice only a mother has.
Flicking his eyes over to Jamal, Neil sees him raise an eyebrow at his wife. "Er- yes ma'am," Neil puts his hand up to shake hers, "Pleasure to meet you as well, ma'am."
Waving a dismissive hand at him, "Oh none of that now dear, call me Jess," she says, pouncing on him with a hug and peck on the cheek. Smiling re-assuredly, she releases him and looks over to Grace "Shall we go in then? I've got lunch ready."
Turning around she grabs her husband's arm and proceeds to drag him inside, muttering to him, "You could of been a bit nicer to him, it's not like Grace normally brings boys to meet us." She glares, "Be nice from now on mister," she digs him in the ribs with her elbow, "or else." she finishes, leaving it open.
Sighing, and knowing full well that he would not win against her , he folds. "Yes dear."
Placing a hand on her back Neil unconsciously leads Grace into the castl- house, behind her parents. He lets out a breath he didn't realize that he was holding. "You okay?" Grace asks from his side.
"Yeah," he mumbles, still staring wide-eyed at everything around him.
Sitting in the lounge eating lunch, the four of them chat, with Grace catching them up with what was happening in her life as of late. However the news of Grace being injured last week did not go down well with her father.
"You let her get hurt! What the hell were you doing? Sitting in your office having a cup of tea?" Standing up Jamal paces back and forth in front of them, -in-front of their coffee table- running a hand through his hair repeatedly. Gracie hurt? She's leaving the police now. I don't care what she says.
"How the hell can you call yourself a copper? You're supposed to protect people and you can't even protect your own team!" He yells, coming to a halt in front of Neil, throwing his hands up in the air exasperatedly when he gets no response. "Well?"
Standing up abruptly, leaving only a foot of space between them, Neil stares directly into Jamal's eyes, clenching his fists at his side and ignoring the twitch of his left eye. His voice came out so quietly that all occupants stopped breathing to better hear the words. "Don't you think I haven't beaten myself up over Grace getting hurt? It was the last thing I wanted, I would of rather been there than let her go, I will never forgive myself for letting her get in that position. Never."
"And I don't need you,-" Neil points a finger at Jamal, "-to remind me, that I got the woman I love hurt. Nothing I can ever do will make up for that! Grace has for some unknown reason forgiven me, and I will make it up to her some day." Dropping his hand -which was still pointing at Jamal-, Neil suddenly remembers where they were.
He steps back, showing a little submission. Glancing to the side, he sees that Grace is standing there glaring, but not at him; at her father. Oh great, the last thing I wanted was to cause a rift between them two.
Flicking guilty eyes over to Jess, he is surprised to see that she has a ghost of a smile on her lips.Replaying the speech over in his head, it dawns on him. Oh god, I said I loved her… to her parents! I haven't even told Grace yet and I'm declaring it to her father! God, I'm a dead man.
Looking back over to Grace he sees her mouth moving, talking to her father, but he can't hear them over the blood pounding in his ears.Looking back at Jamal, he sees that he's not saying anything. Maybe I shocked him as much as I shocked myself.
The next thing Neil knows is he is being dragged out of the lounge and up a set of stairs. Being pushed onto a bed, he sits on the edge. He looks at Grace for the first time since being dragged from the lounge.
"Grace," he whispers, watching her come over to the bed and silently sit next to him. Unable to read her expression, he begins to panic. "Grace, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I –uh. I don't… think I could have made a worse impression," he gives up in the end, hanging his head.
Laughter was not what he was expecting to hear. Lifting his head back up he sees Grace has fallen onto the bed behind them still laughing, holding her sides. Has she flipped? What is there to laugh about? "Grace?" He asks, eyebrow lifted.
"Oh I'm sorry Neil, it's just so funny," she whimpers, stifling her laughter. Sitting up again she looks at him, "Neil, I don't think my father has ever been spoken to like that before. He's used to getting his own way with no one standing up to him," she says amusedly, "I think you and him will get on fine." Becoming serious Grace looks at him intently. "I do have one thing to say though,"
Taking his hands Grace looks up from them to his face, "I don't want you beating yourself up over what happened Neil; it wasn't your fault." She shakes her head softly, squeezing his hand reassuringly.
Shaking his head urgently, Neil gets up and paces across the room, running a hand through his hair. "No Grace, I- I can't just- just forget what happened… I've tried but I can't. I meant every word I said down there," he turns back to face her with dark, soulful eyes.
"Every word?" Grace asks, peering up at him from under her lashes.
"Every word," Neil whispers, walking back over to her. He squats in front of her, gently cupping her hands in his.
Taking a steadying breath he looks into her eyes. "Grace, I know that we've only been… Well, been 'us'-" he waves a hand between them, "-for a little while, but I have felt something for you for a very, very long time, and I guess I only acknowledged what it is when I was downstairs…" He glances away from her, the intimacy a little too much. "Hell, I didn't even know I said it until I replayed the conversation." He chuckles.
Watching Grace just stare at him for a few moments in comfortable silence, Neil gets up and sits beside her on the bed. Turning to her, still holding her hand, he explains further. "I don't expect you to say anything, I know it's probably a lot to take in, I just want you to know that I meant it. Every word," he smiles reassuringly, non-threateningly.
Leaning over Neil places a gentle kiss on her lips, only staying there for a few moments. Neil starts to pull back but Grace snakes her arm around his neck, pulling him back in for another kiss. Tongues duelling in the dance that they have begun to love, they both fall back onto the bed, Neil moving so he's lying half on top of her.
Exploring the body which he now has the pleasure to call his, he slips his hand under her top tracing shapes on her side, making her giggle softly, in turn breaking their kiss.
Grinning, Neil opens his mouth to growl a playful command at her, but a light a knock on the door stops him completely. Eyes widening in panic, Neil jumps off of Grace and stands by the bed as if he had just been electrocuted, putting on his most innocent face.
Still lying on the bed, Grace raises her eyebrow at him, trying very hard not to burst out laughing.
"Grace, are you in there?" A voice floats in from the hallway with louder knock.
"Coming," Grace calls, getting off of the bed at a leisurely pace. Grace opens the door to her mother with a smile. "How is he?" Grace asks, peering down the hallway.
"Stubborn as always," Jess laughs heartily. Looking over at Neil, her eyes soften as he shifts awkwardly. "Neil honey, don't listen to him, honestly; he is just very protective and he doesn't like the fact that there's someone else who has taken his place in protecting Grace," she smiles softly, as if consoling a panicked rabbit.
Neil says nothing, only nodding in reply. Well at least one of Grace's parents doesn't hate me.
"Come on, let's go back down stairs. As much as you two probably want to stay in the bedroom, I haven't seen you in a long time darling," Jess says with a hidden smile, walking back out of the bedroom.
Staring at her opened mouthed, Grace splutters for a bit before finally hissing: "Mother!" and trying in vain to get her feet moving.
"Who knew your mother would have such a dirty mind?" Neil laughs, walking up behind Grace, a slight blush tingeing his features.
"Yeah," Grace murmurs, embarrassedly. Grabbing his hand they both head back down stairs.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After both men shook hands, the next couple of hours go by quite quickly with the family discussing what would be happening tomorrow.
"Sam and the kids will be coming over tomorrow," Jess says as they all settle down after dinner, the TV on in the background. "They heard you were coming, so they wanted to see you," Jess pats Graces' knee.
Grace nods. "What time they getting here?" She questions.
"Around twelve, so there'll be plenty of time to relax in the morning," Jess winks at Neil, causing him to blush and avert his eyes to the TV.
"How old are they?" Neil asks, trying to calm down his blush.
"Kieran is 13 and Jacob is 11. They haven't seen Grace in a while," Jamal puts in, watching the TV keenly.
Considering this was the first time Jamal had acknowledged Neil since this afternoon, Neil managed to hide his surprise quite well, just nodding in reply.
With the silence starting to creep in on them all, Jess starts up the conversation again. "Do you have any children Neil, dear?"
Snapping his head up he looks up at Jess, blinking a few times before clearing his throat self-consciously and swallowing. "Uh, yes; a son, he is the same age as Kieran actually," he explains, clearing his throat again.
He squeezes Graces' hand when she slips it inside his. Looking down at their joined hands, he sees Grace give a slight shake of her head to her parents. Always looking out for me, he thinks, feeling a warm stir in the pit of his stomach, before squeezing her hand again.
The sound of the telephone ringing brings Neil back into the present. Watching Jamal get up and answer the phone he looks over at Grace. She leans her head on the back of the sofa and closes her eyes.
"You okay?" Neil asks after watching Jess leave the room. He places his arm on the back of the sofa behind her head.
"Yep, just a bit tired, that's all." Turning her head to the side, she gives him a quick smile, reassuring him.
"Why don't you go up and have a bath, just relax for a bit?" Neil suggests, twirling a curl of her hair.
"What, and leave you here alone?" Grace retorts with a grin, raising an eyebrow.
She's getting good at that eyebrow thing, He inwardly snorts. "I'll be fine, this is about you anyways, don't worry about me; I can survive. For a while, anyway," he chuckles, smiling.
Leaning over she plants a quick kiss on his lips, whispering 'thank you' before informing her parents that she'll be going for a bath and to go easy on Neil.
Filling the next hour with random bits of conversation mainly from Jess, Neil makes his excuses and goes upstairs to check on Grace.
Digging him hard in the side of the ribs, Jess scolds her husband. "You can make a bit more of an effort y'know," She scowls, "She's finally found someone who she's genuinely happy with."
Looking up at the ceiling Jamal rolls his eyes, "Don't start Jess." He turns to put the kettle on.
"I will. Grace isn't your baby girl anymore, she's an adult and you need to respect her decisions." Seeing that his attention had moved back to her, she rages on. "Neil seems like a nice guy and what's most important is her happiness," she clasps his hand, "Try. Please."
Closing his eyes, Jamal swipes his thumb over her palm, sitting down. "I just don't want her to be used, liked what happened with Sam." He gulps, looking down at his wife with pleading eyes. "I don't want her heart broken like his was," Jamal replies with a pained expression.
"I know you don't, nor do I, but Grace doesn't go and date anyone and everyone; this is the first time we've actually met someone she's with; it must mean that Neil is a good man. Knowing Grace she probably hasn't even said to him about her trust fund." Standing up, Jess pulls his arm, "Come on, lets go make some drinks."
"Okay, okay," he play-grumbles, standing up. Jamal pulls his wife towards him, planting a chaste kiss on her lips. "Mmmph, you are so good for me. I love you," he mumbles.
"Well, you know I'm only with you for your money," Jess whispers. Upon seeing her husbands eyes widen and his jaw slacken in shock, she darts from the kitchen, giggling.
"Hey!" Jamal laughs, chasing after his wife with a grin plastered on his face.
Opening the bedroom door slowly after not getting a reply from his knocking, Neil pokes his head in. "Grace?" he asks looking around the room.
Walking into the room fully, he smiles when he sees Grace lying on the bed, fast asleep. Sitting down carefully on the edge, Neil traces a finger down her face, moving the hair out of her eyes. "Grace," he whispers. Seeing her shift in response, he tries again.
"Come on Grace, you better wake up," he says quietly, patting her arm gently.
Opening her eyes slowly, Grace smiles when his face comes into focus. "Hey," she clears her throat. "Sorry, I didn't know I fell asleep." She whispers, as if there was someone going to overhear.
"No worries," he smiles down at her dishevelled appearance.
Getting up and swapping her dressing gown for some joggers and a top, they both make their way back downstairs.
"Ah, there you are," Jamal greets them as they enter the living room. "Thought you had gone to bed already," he grins at Grace as Neil shifts uncomfortably. Passing them both a drink, they all sit back down, more relaxed than before Neil left.
With Grace attempting to hide a yawn, they all decide it is time to head off of to bed a little while later.
Opening his eyes, Neil quickly slams them closed, biting back a curse as the stream of sunlight momentarily blinds him. He feels something moving on him and stills instantly.
Looking over gingerly, he sees Grace starting to stir. He smiles, tightening his arm around her. "Morning," he murmurs.
"Mmm, morning," Grace replies, voice heavy with disuse. Lifting her head up she gives him a smile, "How'd you sleep?" she asks, resting her head on his chest.
"Great. You?" He plants a kiss on the top of her head.
"Snap." Stretching her body awake, she inadvertently pushes her body flush along his, causing a groan to leave Neil. She just grins at him. "Come on, we'd better get up and get ready."
Get up? She does that and expects us to get up? "Eurgh, why?" He whines, "Your mum said we had until twelve 'till they get here," Neil pouts, pulling her closer to him as she tried to wiggle away. "Nooo," Neil moans childishly as she slips from his clutches.
Laughing at his pouting face, Grace leans up and gives him a peck on the lips. "You're cute when you pout," she grins at his indignant face.
"Cute? I wasn't exactly aiming for cute," he whines again. Hearing her laugh, he grins to himself.
"Okay, if you say so. But, we had better get up; knowing my brother, he'll be here by ten, even though he said twelve," she grumbles, patting his chest. Grace gets up and heads into the en-suite, going about her morning routine.
"Fine, but I'm not happy about it," Neil mutters after her. Grabbing a pillow, he places it over his face to block out the sun, which was still annoying him. Ahhh god, it even smells of her, he breathes in the scent of Grace.
Hearing the door open to the en-suite, Neil lifts the pillow off. Lifting his head, he sees Grace standing by the door in a t-shirt. "Have you come to take pity on me?" He asks, dropping his head back down. Hang on. Just a t-shirt! Sitting upright on the bed, Neil rakes his eyes up and down Grace'slong legs disappearing under the top which was hanging down to her mid thighs. Hmmm I wonder if I can get a look underneath there.
"Well…I was thinking…" Grace starts off, leaning against the doorframe. "It may… be quicker if we… have a shower… together," she finishes, a smile tugging at her lips.
Eyes widening at the mere thought of it, "Really?" he squeaks, not moving from the bed.
"I wouldn't suggest it if I didn't think it was a good idea," she replies, scampering back into the en-suite, not looking back.
I am one lucky man, he thinks, scrambling off the bed and rushing into the bathroom after the woman he loves.
Sitting in the garden they all look towards the back doors when they hear the distinct sound of children running through the house.
'Aunt Grace! Aunt Grace!' Is all Neil can hear echoing from within the house. Huh, like one of those horror movies, he thinks with an inward snort.
Standing up, Grace turns towards the doors with a huge grin on her face. She doesn't get a chance to do anything else before she's nearly knocked over by the kids bombarding her with hugs. Settling on her knees she engulfs the children in their own hug.
I've missed you Aunt Grace, did you miss me? I miss you too Aunt Grace, I missed you more! Are you here all day? Can we stay over dad? Both children throw question after question at Grace.
"Woah, calm down guys, I missed you both and yes I am here all day. I'm not going home until tomorrow." Releasing them from the hug, Grace stands up.
Watching the kids go and greet their grandparents, Grace looks back at the house, smiling when she sees him. Leaning against the doorframe with a cheeky grin on his frame was her brother. Holding his arms out Grace willingly goes to him.
"Hey you," Sam whispers into hair as he gives her a cuddle.
"Hey yourself," Grace replies, squeezing him tightly.
Pulling away from the hug Sam holds her at arm's length, giving her the once-over. "How are you doing?" Completing a visual inspection of his sister, seeing her nod and blush slightly, he gets the desired response. "Good,-although you do look a bit different…" trailing off.
Getting a roll of the eyes as a response, he chuckles "Yep, something is different alright, c'mere," he pulls her into another hug.
"I've missed you sis," he whispers again.
"I've missed you too," Grace replies.
Looking over her shoulder Sam sees Neil standing there, looking a bit out of place as he watches the kids jump all over their grandparents. "Do we owe it to him, the change in you?" Sam queries.
Pulling out of the hug, Grace releases her brother, just smiling at him. "Come on, you can meet him," she beams, grabbing his hand and pulling him over to Neil.
Letting go, she stands next to Neil. "Neil, as you can probably guess, this is Sam, my brother. Sam, this is Neil," she waves a hand between them, still unsure of the label she should give Neil.
Standing there, watching them both sizing the other up, Grace starts chewing her bottom lip. How long have they been staring at each other? I forgot how over-protective Sam is. When she sees Sam nod slightly, to himself or her she wasn't sure. Finally.
"Nice to meet you," Sam says in a manly way, sticking his hand out towards Neil.
"Likewise," Neil replies in an equally manly way, gripping Sam's hand in a firm handshake. Better response than from Graces' father. I can finally thank all of my college girlfriends' over-protective siblings for the experience.
"So… do I thank you for making Grace the happiest I've seen her in a long time?" Sam asks, grinning when Grace blushes darkly.
"Sam," Grace manages to whinge out.
Chuckling Neil takes Graces' hand in his, "I'm not sure about that, I'll let Grace decide though," Grinning more when she buries her head in his shoulder.
"Why? Why me?" she mumbles into his shoulder, sounding for all the world like her life was falling down around her ears.
"Only teasing sis," Sam pats her on the back lightly. "Come on Neil, I'll introduce you to the kids," he jerks his head over to them.
Taking her head off of his shoulder, Grace grins at him, "You okay?"
"Yeah, at least he seems to like me somewhat," he replies. Turning around they both start to walk over to Sam and his kids.
"Yeah, don't worry about my brother, he's much more understanding than my father is… bu-ut, the real test now is the kids," she teases.
Coming to a halt in front of the trio, all Neil can seem to do is grin. He knows it makes him look silly, he can feel it, but he just can't stop.
"Neil, this is my son Kieran, 13 and this is Jacob who's 10. Guys, this is Neil, an uh-, a friend of Graces'." He shrugs at the end of the sentence, unsure of how to describe Neil and Grace's relationship.
"Hey there," Neil says to them, getting nervous all of a sudden and trying not to call them 'lil guy' as Jake says that makes him feel stupid when adults call him it. They're kids, why am I so bloody nervous?
Peering up at Neil with bright innocent eyes, "Are you Aunt Grace's boyfriend?" Jacob asks.
That's why. "Uh-I-uh…" Looking over at Grace for help, he sees that he isn't going to get any as she is trying to hold in her laughter. Looking back at Jacob, he sees that he is still waiting for an answer. "I guess so," taking Grace's hand in his and giving it a squeeze.
"What do you do, do you work with Aunt Grace?" Kieran pipes up with a shit-eating grin, sensing the tension.
"Yeah, I work with Grace, I'm a police officer too," Neil informs him. Same age as Jake, I can handle him.
"Isn't that against the rules then, if you work with her you can't be her boyfriend," Kieran states.
Frowning slightly, he looks over to Grace who also has a perplexed look on her face.
"What do you mean Kieran?" Grace asks him. Bending down to his eye level, "Who told you that?"
"No one, that's what always happens on the TV shows. If you work with each other you can't be boyfriend and girlfriend." Kieran says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
Opening her mouth to respond, she's beaten to it by Neil.
"Ah, you see, I'm the boss, so I can do what I like, and no-one can stop me," Neil replies with a grin when Grace stands beside him once again.
"Cool! Are you like, in charge of everyone?" Kieran's eyes light up.
"Not everyone, but a lot of people though," he replies, stuffing his hands in his pockets and rolling back onto his heels slightly.
"Cool, can you drive really fast? Do you have a gun? Have you got a police car here?" Kieran asks, peering around the yard as if it would suddenly appear before him.
"Whoa, calm down squirt. I'm sure Neil will answer whatever questions you want but you have to give him a chance," Sam interjects, turning to Grace. "Come on, I can see that we ain't needed here any more," he laughs.
Smiling at Neil Grace walks away with her brother and Jacob, who quickly tires of the siblings and runs off to his grandparents, leaving Grace and Sam alone.
Taking a seat on the patio, they watch Neil and Kieran sit down on the grass and start chatting away as if Neil was a kid again, waving his arms about comically.
"He seems nice," Sam says, a little suspicion in his voice.
Smiling at the scene, Grace turns to look at her brother. "He is; he's a good man, Sam," she says, a content smile on her face.
Nodding, Sam assures her that he's fine. "As long as you're happy Sis, that's all that matters."
Blushing, Grace ducks her head down, peering back at Neil and Keiran from under her lashes, "I am, I really am."
"Good." They lapse in conversation for a moment. "How was dad with him?" He asks the one question that had been on his mind since getting here, smirking when she rolls her eyes.
"Terrible as usual, they both actually argued yesterday," she informs him with a scowl. Getting a raised eyebrow Grace fills him in on yesterday's events.
"Impressive, I like this guy even more now," Sam chuckles, "I don't know anyone who has stood up to dad and got away with it!"
Catching up with each other, time goes by until their mother is calling them all in for lunch. Standing up they wait for Neil and Kieran to reach them.
"Alright?" Sam asks Kieran.
Nodding eagerly, Kieran goes into an exciting dialogue. "He's well cool dad, he was telling me loads of stories, and he has a son the same age as me too, he said I can meet him if I want. Isn't that cool?" Kieran bounces around on the spot.
Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, Neil apologises. "Sorry, he was just asking a lot of questions."
Laughing loudly, Sam assures Neil that it's all good. "Don't worry about it; I know what he's like when he gets going. Come on kiddo, give Neil a break for a bit, Nan's got lunch ready," they wander into the house.
"You okay?" Grace asks Neil, grabbing his hand.
Smiling, "Couldn't be better, he's a great kid." Giving her a quick peck on her lips, "Let's go eat, shall we?" leading her back into her house.
"Gladly," Grace responds, letting Neil pull her in.
Sitting around the living room for lunch, everyone is calm and relaxed before a phone ringing stops conversation.
Realising that it's his mobile, Neil pulls it out of his trousers, "Sorry," he says to the table in general. Going to reject the call, Neil stops when he sees who is calling, a frown marring his features.
Looking up at everyone, "Sorry, I need to take this," standing up, he heads outside into the garden, but not before answering the call. "Sir?"
Frowning Grace follows his movements outside with her eyes, watching him pace up and down and then halt, turning an interesting shade of white.
"Sir?" Sam queries towards Grace.
"Yeah, that would be the DCI," she replies absently, still watching Neil's not moving.
XXXXXXXXXXX
"Sir?" Neil asks into the phone.
"Neil, sorry to interrupt your leave, but I thought I ought to let you know first," Meadows voice comes through the phone.
Pacing up and down, "What's wrong Sir?" It must be important if he is ringing me when he knows I'm with Grace.
The next words stop him dead in his tracks, "Its Pearson," Meadows says.
Well… what did you all think?
Next chapter will wrap everything up and will be the last one.
Thank you for reading.
Please R & R guys