Thank you all for the lovely reviews. Hope you all enjoy this update.

Leese

"I can't believe you've known where we've been all this time." Grace said in disbelief as Andy finished telling her everything almost an hour later.

"I can't believe that our parents were working together," Nick said with a sigh. He then frowned as he asked. "Do you think they'd bring my parents here too?"

"I honestly don't know," Andy admitted. "I wish that I'd just left you in peace now Grace. You and Kay."

"You know Kay's here too?" Grace asked in a stunned tone.

"Yeah I saw her and Dean moving into their apartment earlier with another guy." Andy replied.

"So you say my mom went all weirdo on the phone to you?" Grace asked and Andy nodded in response. "Now you know what it was like for Kay. And what it would be like for me if she made me go back there after what I had to do to get away from John Ryder. And did you know he isn't dead?"

"I had a feeling he might not be," Andy told her. "I read the article."

"There was a body missing off the tally and it could only have been him," Grace told him. "And who the hell wanted to publish those articles anyway?"

"Your parents," Andy told her. "I think it was a joint decision."

"Great so mine were in on that too?" Nick asked as he shook his head. "Unbelievable."

"I don't want her to know where I am," Grace said. "I don't want her involved in my sons' life. I don't want him to have to put up with them."

"You're having a son?" Andy asked in surprise.

"Yeah we just found out today," Grace told him. "We were supposed to be working on his nursery now."

"I'm sorry," Andy told her. "What if I try and throw her off your trail? What if I said that you'd moved someplace else?"

"You know what she's like Andy," Grace told her. "She would hire some other detective to hunt me down."

"Grace honey, remember what the doc said about avoiding stress," Nick told her softly as their doorbell rang. "I'll get it. It'll be Karen and Keith wanting to know how the scan went."

He stood from the sofa, headed to the door and opened it. His face turned to a mask of shock as he saw who was stood at the other side. His parents and Carly were there with a man and a woman that he guessed to be Grace and Kay's parents.

"Hello son." his father told him before Grace's mom pushed the door open and barged into the house.

"I don't remember inviting any of you in," Nick said in an annoyed tone as the others barged past him and went into the house. Only Carly stayed behind. "You're the only one I don't mind coming in here."

"Really?" Carly asked in surprise.

"Yeah. Come on in." Nick told her. She quickly walked into the house and he closed the door. He then made his way back over to Grace and sat by her side. He saw the two that were obviously her parents staring at her in shock.

"You're pregnant?" Lynn Andrews asked her daughter in disbelief.

"No I just ate too much," Grace replied sarcastically as she sighed. She wasn't in the mood for her parent's drama. "What are you doing here? You're not welcome. Did you not get the hint when I told you to not look for me?"

"But you told me that you love us!" Lynn told her.

"That's what you say to people like you who you know you're not going to see again when you're saying goodbye. I didn't mean it!" Grace said in response.

"How can you say that to us?" Tom asked as he frowned deeply. "We're your parents."

"Because it's the truth. You know I only realized when I started college just how much you smothered me," Grace told them. "And how much I just backed down and let you take control of my life. Well newsflash for you! I have my own life now; one where I'm happy. At least I was before you turned up."

"You don't know what you're on about," Lynn said as she dismissed every word that had left Grace's mouth. Andy watched as if he was seeing her parents for the first time. Lynn eyed Grace's bump as she said. "You'll come back home with us and we'll sort out this mistake of yours. Then you'll go back to college and finish your education. You were so close to graduating and you just threw it all away."

"How dare you call my baby a mistake!" Grace yelled in a disgusted voice. She glared at the people who called themselves her parents with hatred in her eyes. "The only mistake I ever made was not running away sooner!"

"You don't mean that!" Tom said to her.

"Yes I do!" Grace replied in a low angry tone. "You have no right coming here and speaking to me like this. I hate you!"

"Don't say things that you'll only regret later." Lynn warned her. Both Andy and Nick clenched their jaws in anger.

"I will never regret saying that to you because it's the truth," Grace replied. "You know I wish that John Ryder had killed you. At least then I wouldn't have to put up with you right now."

"Take that back!" Tom demanded.

"Never," she told him as she stared at him defiantly. "You're through telling me what to do. Now get the hell out of my house and never come back! I never want to see either of you again!"

"Grace," Nick said in a soft tone, earning him a surprised look from his parents and Carly. Grace moved her attention from her parents to look at him. "I know you can't help it right now, but you shouldn't get too stressed. It's not good for our baby."

"You're gonna be a dad?" Carly asked in surprise. Nick nodded. "Wow."

"Well I never thought I'd see the day where my son would surprise me like this." Steve said as Nick moved his attention to his father.

"Let me guess, I'm such a huge let down and you were right about me all along?" Nick replied as he rolled his eyes.

"Actually no," Steve replied. "You've grown into a respectable young man. I never thought that I would ever see you settled down in a home that you own, look normal instead of like you just got out of jail, be married, have a steady job and a baby on the way. Yet here you are."

"Well I've had a lot of growing up to do since the last time you saw me," Nick replied. "First with jail and then what happened in Ambrose."

"Thank you for keeping your sister safe," Ruth told him. "She told us how you ran into the garage to save her when that monster had her. She said that you arrived so quick that you mustn't have hesitated."

"I didn't," Nick told her. "All I could think was that sicko had my baby sister and I had to get her away from him. And I did. It's just a shame that I couldn't do it for everybody else."

"Why didn't you tell the cops that it was Dalton who stole the car?" Steve asked.

"Because he had a much brighter future ahead of him than I ever thought I could," Nick replied. "I mean yeah I had a football scholarship. It could have been over in the blink of an eye if I got injured or whatever. Dalton had way more than that."

"Why did he choose to get you into trouble for stealing that car?" Ruth asked as a tear slipped down her face.

"Probably because he knew that I wouldn't tell on a friend," Nick answered. "You know this is the most civil you've spoken to me since I was in high school. Answer me this one thing. Would you still be talking to me like this if I hadn't managed to get Carly out of Ambrose alive?"

"Probably not." Ruth admitted. Nick scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"I knew you would say that." he told them as Carly looked at them in astonishment.

"I can't believe that you actually just said that," she said in disbelief. "I thought parents weren't supposed to have a favorite?"

"They're not," Nick told her. "But it's been more than clear since we were about four that they both preferred you."

"No we did-" Steve began. However, he was cut off by the sound of the front door opening and several people walking in.

"Hey sis! You never call-" Kay began as she led the procession into the house. She stopped in her tracks as she saw the two people she hated more than anything. "Oh my God! What are they doing here?"

"Trying to get me to go back with them, but I'm not," Grace replied. "I asked them to leave, so I don't know why they're still here."

"Because they're too stupid for their own good." Kay replied as she glared at them. Dean did too. Karen and Keith were behind them feeling uncomfortable at intruding on a family matter. Behind them Sam was just heading into the house. He closed the door and surveyed the scene in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" Lynn asked Kay in an unpleasant tone.

"She's here because I want her here," Grace answered. "Unlike you."

"N-Nick," Carly stuttered as she reached out to touch his arm. He moved his attention from his wife to his sister and saw her looking pale, upset and socked. "Am I hallucinating?"

"No you're not," Nick replied as he followed her line of vision. He saw that she was looking at Sam. "That's Sam, Dean's younger brother."

"But he looks exactly like-" Carly began. She broke off, unable to say her dead boyfriend's name.

"I know," Nick told her softly. He knew that it had to be hard for her. "I kind of reacted the same way when I first saw him. In my defense it was stupid a.m. and I was half asleep. I thought I was seeing a ghost or something."

"Don't worry I'm getting used to the freaked out looks now." Sam joked as he smiled. Even Carly and Nick's parents were staring at him in shock.

"I'm sorry to stare," Carly apologized as she went over to him. "You're even the same height and build as him."

"Sorry you have to witness this," Grace said to Karen softly. She then let her voice rise as she practically yelled. "But I'm about to go completely crazy at my so-called parents unless they get the hell out of my house! Do I have to call the cops to get them to physically remove you?"

"Grace-" Lynn began.

"Don't Grace me mother!" Grace replied angrily as she got up off the sofa. She quickly went over to her parents. "I mean it! If you are not out of here in two minutes, I'm gonna, whoa!"

"Grace!" Nick said in an urgent tone as she began to sway on her feet. He ran over to her in record time and caught her as she slumped to the floor. He brushed her hair back from her face and saw that her eyes were closed. "Grace honey wake up! Come on!"

"What's wrong with her?" Kay asked in concern as she knelt at the other side of Grace.

"I don't know," Nick said in a worried tone. He then looked at her parents angrily. "If you don't get out of here I won't be responsible for my actions. Only Carly is welcome to stay."

"Come on let's leave." Ruth said to Steve softly. He nodded as they turned to head towards the doorway. They gave Carly a soft smile as they did.

"Didn't I make myself clear enough?" Nick asked.

"Maybe Sam and I have to literally throw them out," Dean said as he glared at Lynn and Tom. "It'll make a change, you two being on the receiving end on an eviction."

"Come on, let's go," Tom said to his wife. "I don't know why we're wasting our time here anyway."

"Me neither." Lynn replied as they followed Steve and Ruth out of the front door. They closed it with a loud crash and Grace's eyes fluttered open.

"Are you okay?" Nick asked her as he looked down at her worriedly and stroked her hair.

"I felt so dizzy," she replied as she moved to sit up. She again felt the too familiar head rush and leaned against Nick for support. "Still do."

"Let's get you on the sofa," he replied. He then carefully lifted her into his arms and placed her down on the sofa. "I can't believe they turned up."

"Me neither." Kay agreed as she and Dean sat down. Karen and Keith sat by Andy. Sam and Carly were now sat on two chairs that went with the small dining table that was near a window in a corner of the lounge. Dean nudged her and pointed over at them. They saw that they were having a hushed conversation.

"I think Sam finally got himself a girly!" Dean whispered as he grinned suggestively.

"Hopefully they won't bother you again," Andy said as he frowned. "You know I've never seen that side of them until today. I heard a bit of your mother's on the phone, but that was as far as it went."

"Welcome to our lives Andy." Kay said with a sigh.

"Oh before I forget," Grace said as she looked over at Andy, Karen and Keith. "Karen, Keith this is Andy, my Godfather and family friend. He's also a private investigator. Andy this is Karen and Keith, our surrogate parents and employers."

"Nice to meet you." Andy said as he smiled. He then shook each of their hands.

"Likewise." Keith replied with a smile.

"You too." Karen added.

"So sis, now that the drama is over with those morons, am I getting a niece or a nephew?" Kay asked Grace excitedly.

"You're getting a nephew." Grace replied.

"Congratulations." Karen and Keith said as they heard the news.

"Can you not send that one back so I can get a niece?" Kay asked jokingly. Grace laughed and shook her head.

"No and I wouldn't want to," she replied. "I'm glad we're having a boy. I secretly hoped we would be."

"You did?" Nick asked as he smiled and looked at her. She nodded and smiled in return. Nick then kissed her lovingly. Carly watched the exchange with a happy smile. It was good to finally see her brother happy.

"I'm hungry for something yummy!" Grace suddenly said as she pushed Nick away slightly. She then looked at her bump. "Suggestions would be great little guy."

"How about I go and rustle something up?" Karen suggested. She was met by a round of grateful responses and she laughed as she headed into Nick and Grace's kitchen. Kay went to help her.

~X~

"I'm glad that he's okay." Nathan said in a relieved tone as he carried a sleeping Jamie out of the hospital. Haley was at his side looking as relieved as he felt.

"Me too," she agreed. "I'm glad it was just an ear infection and nothing more serious."

"Same here," Nathan told her as he kissed her. "I don't think I've ever felt as worried as that in my life."

"Me neither," Haley replied. "I'm just sorry that you missed the bus to the game."

"The coach was cool about it when I called him," Nathan replied. "Even he said my son's health comes before a game. And it's just a charity game. It's not like it's a league game or anything like that."

"I never thought I'd hear a coach saying those words." Haley told him as they headed to their car.

"It could be because I told him that I was gonna drive myself there so that I wouldn't miss it," Nathan confessed. "I'll just be a little sleepy when I get there. I might not be able to call when I get there. I'll probably just have to get straight on the court. And if I fall into a sleep coma afterwards, I will call you first thing in the morning."

"What?" Haley asked in surprise. "Nathan, should you be doing that? You're exhausted. What happens if you fall asleep while you're driving? You better call me as soon as you can."

"I promise you I won't," he assured her. "I'll have a constant coffee supply and I'll make regular bathroom stops to splash water on my face. It's only a short drive Hales."

"Just be careful," she told him as she gave him a worried look. "I don't want you getting hurt."

"I'll be careful I promise," he told her as they reached the car. Haley opened the doors and he placed Jamie in his car seat. They then climbed into the car themselves and Nathan started the engine. As he did the clouds seemed to burst and rain began to pour down. He looked at her and grinned. "Mmm rain!"

"I wish you didn't have to go to the game," she said as she sighed. Nathan began the short drive back to the apartment. "We could do other stuff in the rain, rather than you having to drive in it."

"I wish I didn't either now that you said that," Nathan said in a longing tone. "But I have to Hales. As much as it pains me to turn you down when you're obviously getting into kinky mode, I'm gonna have to. And that's something that I never thought that I would say."

"Me neither," Haley replied with a small smile. "I bet the coach would be very impressed if he could have heard that."

"He probably would be, but he's never going to find out about this conversation," Nathan replied with a laugh. "I just hope it's raining when I get back."

"Me too." Haley told him as he turned onto the road that their apartment was on.

"I take it you'll be praying to the rain god on your way home then?" she asked as she laughed softly.

"Too right I will," he told her as he pulled up outside of their building. He turned the engine off and grinned as he gave her a sideways glance. "I'm so glad that you have a white shirt on. Why don't you go ahead and I'll carry Jamie."

"You sure?" she asked and he nodded. "You're so sweet."

"I don't have any sweet intentions with that offer," he told her playfully. "If you carry Jamie that means the best part of your shirt won't get wet."

"Nathan!" Haley said as she laughed.

"Hales humor me. I have a long drive ahead of me. An awesome picture in my head of my girl in a see through wet shirt will definitely keep me awake," he told her as he gave her a pleading puppy dog look and added. "Can you slip any undergarments off before you do though?"

"Seeing as though it's for your own safety, I'll do it," Haley replied as she managed to slip her bra off without removing her shirt. "Happy now?"

"I will never figure out how girls manage to do that," he said as he got a thoughtful look on his face. "I'll be happy when that shirt is all wet."

"I just hope nobody else sees me." Haley said as she climbed out of the car. Nathan eagerly followed.

~X~

"Karen that was absolutely delicious." Andy told her as he finished his dinner.

"Thank you," Karen replied with a smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I've yet to meet someone who doesn't say that the first time they try some of her food." Keith told him with a smile.

"I said that she should have won awards or something," Grace said. "When we first got here, I thought it was just because we hadn't eaten properly in a while that the food tasted so good, but I was wrong."

"I agree," Nick added. "I thought the same. Thanksgiving and Christmas were the best ones ever. And that was just because of the food, never mind all the other awesome stuff on top."

"What's for dessert?" Grace asked as she smiled widely at Karen. "The baby wants to know."

"Sure he does sis." Kay replied as she laughed.

"I am eating for two remember." Grace told her with an amused smile.

"We brought apple pie from the café." Karen told her. Grace's eyes lit up.

"I forgot to bring it in," Keith said. "It's still in the car. I'll go and get it."

"It's a good thing that it's not overly warm tonight." Karen told him.

"Well we could have always had it hot if that happened," Keith replied as he grinned. He then headed out of the front door to retrieve the pie. He came back moments later soaking wet. "It's pouring down out there."

"So I can see." Karen said as she took in the sight of her soaked husband.

"Please tell me that the pie isn't waterlogged." Grace said as she frowned.

"No the pie is perfectly fine." Keith assured her as he headed over to the table.

"Damn, do you want a towel?" Nick asked as he saw just how drenched Keith was.

"Yeah that would be good." Keith replied. Karen took the pie from his hands as Kay began to clear the empty plates away.

"You can go get him one while I cut the pie." Karen told Nick in an amused tone.

"Karen, can I have a really big piece please?" Grace asked hopefully.

"Seeing as though it's you, I think I'll let you." Karen answered with a laugh. She laughed even more as she saw Grace's happy reaction, before she headed to the kitchen.

~X~

Nathan sighed as he drove along the road towards Charlotte. The rain was coming down with a renewed force and had made him slow his driving right down. He hoped he would have been where he needed to by now, but thanks to the weather; he was running behind by almost forty five minutes. He let out a moan of frustration as he saw that there had obviously been an accident and the traffic was now going along at a snails pace. The water on the windows made the flashing lights of the emergency services filter into his car like a kaleidoscope.

As the traffic came to a stop to let an ambulance pull out from the accident site, Nathan saw that there was a broken down car on the shoulder. The yellow hazard lights were blinking almost hypnotically. He peered out of the window trying to get a closer look and saw that it was obviously a family car. The cartoon sun blinds in the back windows and the stuffed toys on the shelf at the back were clear give aways.

Nathan breathed a sigh of relief as he thought of Haley and Jamie safe and warm back home in their apartment. He then smiled as his thoughts went to Haley standing in the rain in her white shirt. She had given him a clear view of what lay underneath as the sopping fabric clung to her body like a second skin. He was so engrossed in thinking of her that he jumped when he heard a knock on his window. He looked to his right and could only make out a dark shape. He sighed as he reluctantly lowered the window a little way.

"Sorry to bother you," the man said as he bent slightly and looked in at Nathan. "I was wondering if I could trouble you for a ride to the next gas station. My car's broken down and I have no signal to gall a tow truck. I wouldn't ask but I need to get home to my kids."

"Is that your car?" Nathan asked as he nodded to the one that was practically adjacent to his.

"Yeah," the man replied. "I don't know what's wrong with it. It just upped and died on me."

Nathan was silent for a few moments as he wondered if he should give the guy a ride. The gas station was on his route and it wouldn't add on any more time to his journey. He then thought about if it was him that was in this situation and wanted to get back to Haley and Jamie and what it would be like if nobody offered any assistance.

"Okay hop in." Nathan found himself saying.

"You're a lifesaver," the man replied as he made his way round to the passenger seat. He opened the door and climbed in. The door closing as he did suddenly sounded ominous to Nathan and he hoped that he hadn't just made a huge mistake. "It's definitely coming down huh? Doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon either."

"You're right there," Nathan replied. "Honestly not the type of weather that you want to be driving in."

"I hear you." the man replied.

"Have you been waiting for help for long?" Nathan asked as the traffic began moving again.

"About an hour," his passenger told him. "That accident happened just before my car died. Damn where are my manners? I should introduce myself. The name's John. John Ryder."

"Nathan Scott." Nathan replied. He frowned slightly. There was something about that name that seemed to be familiar but he couldn't place why.

"Are you heading home?" John asked him.

"No, I'm heading to a charity basketball game that I'm supposed to be playing in in Charlotte," Nathan replied as he concentrated on the road. "Somehow I don't think I'll be there on time."

"Don't you usually travel in a bus?" John asked as he tried not to smile.

"We do, but I missed it," Nathan told him. "I was at the hospital with my son, so the coach let me off."

"You don't look old enough to have a son." John remarked.

"He's not even one yet," Nathan told him as he smiled proudly. "It's his first birthday in a couple of weeks."

"I take it you have a big celebration planned?" John asked pretending to be the ever doting father.

"My mom has," Nathan told him with a laugh. "How old are your kids?"

"I don't have any kids." John replied. Nathan frowned at his answer.

"But you said that you wanted to get home to your kids." Nathan said before he swallowed harshly. He was beginning to get an uneasy feeling.

"I know I did," John replied his facade suddenly changing. "It seemed like the only way that I would get a ride."

"But your car had all the kids stuff in it." Nathan added as the uneasy feeling became stronger and stronger.

"That wasn't my car," John told him. He let out a chuckle that sent shivers along Nathan's spine. "I drove it but it didn't belong to me. Can I ask you something?"

"That depends on what it is." Nathan replied hoping his voice sounded normal. His eyes kept looking around, hoping to spot the gas station so that he could get this guy out of his car.

"Have you ever thought about dying?" John asked. Nathan glanced at him sideways and saw the sinister smirk on his face. "I mean have you ever thought that when that moment you could choose how another person would take your life?"

"Not really." Nathan answered as he mentally kicked himself for agreeing to give this nut job a ride.

"Well today is your lucky day. I'm going to be that person," John told him. Nathan almost crashed his car as the words registered. He then wished that he had as John Ryder leaned over to him. Nathan saw the knife in his hand as he did. "So you're a basketball player huh?"

"Uh huh." Nathan replied as he did his best to keep his eyes on the road and on the knife.

"So I'm guessing, muscles, tendons and fingers are really useful for that game," John said in a sinister tone. Nathan hoped that he was having a nightmare. "So which would you father lose?"

"Excuse me?" Nathan squeaked in a shocked voice. He didn't know how he was still controlling the car. He felt like he was floating out of his body and looking down at the ridiculous scene in the car.

"You heard," John told him. "Which would you rather lose?"

"None of them." Nathan replied instinctively.

"Wrong answer," John said in response, before he plunged the knife into Nathan's right thigh. Nathan let out a pained noise as he did. He glanced down and was surprised when jets of blood didn't begin pumping out of the wound. "Don't worry, I missed the major artery. Don't want you dying on me before I'm done with you now do I?"

"Are you crazy?" Nathan asked as he pulled the car over. "Get the fuck out of my car before I stab you."

"That isn't going to happen," John told him in a calm voice. "Not yet anyway."

"Like hell it isn't!" Nathan yelled as he tried not to think of the pain that was radiating throughout his leg.

"I'll get out if you say one thing," John said as he pulled a gun out of his coat pocket, cocked it and pressed it against Nathan's forehead. "I want you to say four little words: I... want... to... die."

~X~

The next morning, Nick, Grace, Karen, Keith, Dean, Kay, Sam and Carly were in the café at the counter. Kay and Karen were working and the rest were sat eating their breakfast. Keith was reading through the sports section of the paper, eagerly awaiting the result of the previous night's basketball game.

"Hmm that's odd." Keith said as he read the article.

"What is?" Karen asked him curious.

"Nathan didn't play last night," Keith told her as he frowned. "It says that he didn't even show up at the arena."

"Really?" Karen asked in surprise.

"Well it says according to sources," Keith replied as he continued to read. "I hope everything is okay."

"Maybe he's sick or injured." Nick suggested as he heard them talking.

"He would have called to tell us that he wasn't playing," Keith told him. "I just hope that everything is okay with the three of them."

"I'm sure either him or Haley will call soon," Karen replied. As she finished talking the café phone began to ring. "See they probably heard us."

"That was pretty good timing." Keith said with a slight laugh as Karen went over to answer it.

He continued to read through the article as the others ate their food. Kay went about serving the few customers that were there. Karen finished her conversation on the phone and then headed back over to where everybody was gathered. Keith looked up saw the shocked and worried look on her face. As did the others that were sat at the counter.

"What is it?" Keith asked in concern. "What's wrong?"

"Nathan's missing."