A new year!

Phoebe's POV:

The year ended beautifully. Christmas was joyful and I even got to see Brent before the year ended! Dad has agreed to allow me to end my "grounding" earlier, much to the despise of my cousin Eva who was still grounded. Aunt Kate and Uncle Elliot had refused to allow her off as the whole incident had been her idea originally and truth be told they didn't like Tyson also. Also her GPA had fallen to a record low of 3.0, whilst mine now sat at 4.6. Our school allocated a GPA out of 5. So I determined that as long as I maintained good behaviour, the recent improvement in relations with my parents and outstanding grades, nothing was going to be able to stop me seeing Brent!

It was almost 6pm and time for dinner, both my parents where home. I changed out of my school uniform and put on one of the dresses that Dad and I bought on our last shopping trip. Went to the table and sat down. Dad was already there and I could hear mom on her cell phone coming.

"I think I need to hire a new editor. Murphy is considering moving to New York with his partner. You know Phoebe you would make a great editor, your English is excellent you could work with me", Mom said smiling.

"Sorry Mom but I still think I will try for pre-med. Grandma was kind of excited on Christmas day when I mentioned it to her", I pointed out. Boy was Grandma ever so excited! I actually decided to make that part of my Christmas gift to her, though Grandpa did point out that I would have a great career in Law.

"Do you have any major assessments at school in two weeks Phoebe?" asked Dad.

"No. I have a few assignments to hand in but I have finished most of them. Why do you ask?"

"I am going over east and thought you might like to come with me and see Ted. You haven't been over yet and maybe you could have a look at Harvard College" winked Dad.

"That would be great but I thought you both wanted me to stay close to home. Why show me something you won't let me have"

"We do and when the time comes maybe we will try to change your mind, but you should at least see other schools. I hate how most of the IVEY league colleges are on the east coast." said Mom.

"I could just give up school now and not go to college and live at home forever", I joked and laughed. I looked at Dad who wasn't laughing, rather he said. "Phoebe, the scary thing about that is that I would actually like that. The staying at home not the giving up school part so much."

Gail bought us dinner and I ensured that I finished it all. "So Dad and Mom, as per our agreement can Brent come and have dinner here this week?" I said as I moved my head back and forth until one of them looked at me. "Mom... dad?"

"We heard you but when?" Dad said bluntly.

"How about this Friday night?" Mom and Dad looked at each other and nodded. "Excellent, can I leave the table? I have finished and would like to ring Brent."

"Yes that fine" said Mom.

I ran into my room and rang Brent straight away.

Brent: Hi Phoebe. I was just trying to do come study for chemistry but was finding it very hard as I kept thinking about you.

Phoebe: Smooth, but considering your last chemistry test result I think you should focus more. It's aad actually.

Brent: What's sad?

Phoebe: That I am actually very good at Chemistry, and that surely thinking about me should have helped somehow. But this is not why I rang you.

Brent: You want phone sex?

He was joking of course!

Phoebe: Do you want one of my Dad security guys to come and kill you and make it look like an accident?

Brent: Your joking aren't you?

Phoebe: Only partially, but this isn't why I rang. Are you free on Friday night?

Brent: I was hoping I could see you actually.

Phoebe: Good, because I want you to come to dinner at my parents house.

Brent: Dinner.. YOUR Parents?

The words seemed to spill out of his mouth.

Phoebe: yes, dinner with my parents. It will be fine. I think Ted gave them a good report and his opinion means allot to my dad so you should be fine.

Brent: Ok what do I wear, what do I bring?

Phoebe: Just wear a pair of pants and a buttoned up shirt. Don't bring anything, but yourself. And do not be late, Dad hates people being late. Be here at 6:00pm.

Brent: Ok. See you Friday night.

Phoebe: thanks. See you then

Friday night – Christians POV.

"I wish I could scare him off somehow", I said to Ana. I didn't mind Phoebe dating but I kind of minded her getting serious with another guy.

"Phoebe would never forgive you. It took you both months to get back to where you both are in your relationship after the incident at Grace and Carricks house." Ana was getting out of her work clothes and into a white knee length dress in preparation for tonight's dinner.

"You look beautiful in white." I said, bringing a large smile to Ana's face.

"Mom and Dad are you both ready?" Phoebe asked as she approached our door.

"What for?" I asked trying to be funny, but my wife and daughter did not share my humour.

"Dad don't try and be funny right now. I want serious but fun loving dad here tonight. Also listen you are going to be nice tonight aren't you? I mean you not going to go all French inquisitions with a touch of Stalin are you?" Phoebe asked with the biggest look of concern on her face.

"No, but if he touches you, Taylor has already said that he will shot him and we will be able to hide the body so no one can ever find it" Again they didn't share my humour. "Phoebe, I promise I will be civil. Your mom and I just want to meet him and have a decent chat to him." As soon as I finished talking the door bell rang.

"That will be Brent. I will go and answer it", Phoebe jumped up and I noticed a glow in her face. I took Ana's hand to escort her to living room.

"Christian promise me you will go easy on him, I don't want tonight to go badly. I don't want to sadden Phoebe". Ana too looked worried.

"I promise."

"Good or else I might make you sad in bed tonight". I looked at my wife in shock; she had never refused me in almost 18 years. We approached the living room were Phoebe and Brent were sitting and talking. Once they saw us Brent stood up and reached his hand out to mine.

"Good evening Mr and Mrs Grey. Thank you for inviting me to dinner". He was nicely dressed and very well mannered. I sensed that Phoebe had been grooming him for tonight.

"Thank you for coming. Phoebe and even our son have told us allot about you. Please sit down, would you like a drink?".

"No sir I don't drink I am only 17". Hhhmmm... I wasn't sure if he was stupid or trying to prove that he was responsible. Phoebe smiled and said "Brent I am going to have a coke, do you want one?"

"Yes", Brent said as he looked at Phoebe. He looked deeply at her and found it hard to take his eyes off of her. Phoebe was turning into a clone of her mother and as a result I would have to prepare myself for allot of male suitors.

When Phoebe returned he handed Brent a glass and also passed me and Ana a glass of red wine. "Here Mom and Dad, Gail thought you could use one of these". She gave me a look that read BE-NICE!.

"So we hear you are thinking about doing accounting at college?" I asked, trying to get a feel for this guy

"My father is an accountant and would like me to do so, but i am interested in fine arts." Fine arts, not allot of security there. But tonight may not be the night to probe that aspect.

"We would like Phoebe, to go into publishing or even pursue work at Grey Holdings like her brother but she seems to have other ideas" I said with a smirk.

"It's not that I seem to have other ideas, it is that I do have other ideas." Phoebe pointed out. Brent looked at Phoebe confused.

"What other ideas do you have? Brent asked.

"Pre-med at Yale, or maybe even Stanford. But I am not sure, I guess that depends on what happens." Ana and I gave each other a brief look.

"Those colleges aren't too far from where I want to go, and in fact Yale is my first preference." Brent pointed out. Hhhhhmmmm... No way was I going to let Phoebe focus her academic career on the basis of a boy she has seen 4 times.

"What do you mean by that depends in terms of college Phoebe?" Ana inquired. I was glad she asked as I don't think our daughter would have accepted that question positively from me.

"I am only a sophomore, I have another two and a half years left of school. Allot can happen, I may even consider taking Teddy on and try and take over Grey Holdings instead", Phoebe said as she laughed.

Gail came and told us dinner was ready. Dinner went rather well, I had to admit and Brent was a rather articulate and well informed young man. At 10pm, after Phoebe and Brent went to watch a movie in the living room, I heard Brent and Phoebe walk to the door. I stood on the stairs and watched.

"You were great at dinner. I know my dad can be hard to take and scares allot of people, but i think he liked you" Phoebe said smiling at him.

"Thanks. You are so beautiful Phoebe. Can I see you next week" He said as he ran his hand over her face. Not sure that I liked this show of intimacy, time to walk down and make my presence know.

"Good evening Brent. Thank you for coming over", I said as I approached to shake his hand.

"Dad, Brent was wondering if I could see him next weekend"

"No you can't" I said as Phoebe pleasant mood shattered. "You and I are flying over east and seeing Harvard and Ted remember?"

"Oh yeah, sorry Brent I forgot." Phoebe looked devastated.

"But you and Brent you can both go out the weekend after" I pointed out and then suddenly Phoebe put her arms around me and whispered into my ear, "I love you daddy". She hadn't called me daddy for years.

We both said good night to Brent and Phoebe practically skipped to her room. I returned to my room where Ana was waiting. She barely had any clothes on and I knew what was on her mind.