Book Three, Part Twenty-Six: 24-Hours

Mia's Point of View

"Where the hell is this place?" Jake asked, as he navigated the bumpy gravel road.

"Just up ahead. And watch your mouth." I said, boxing him on his ears.

He grinned and leaned away from my swatting hands.

"Ooh! There it is!" I squealed. He cursed, under his breath this time, and stomped on his brakes, his arm coming over in front of me so I didn't go through the windshield. He always did that. I loved he was so protective of me, so I didn't bother reminding him my seatbelt was on.

He made the turn and continued on.

"Why would anyone want to live all the way out here?" He asked.

"Maybe he likes the quiet?" I suggested, shrugging my shoulder.

"Well now that you are in his life, he really needs to kiss that concept goodbye." He teased.

I huffed.

"Jerk." I muttered.

"You love me." He grinned.

"I am rethinking that at the moment I have you know."

"Sure ya are."

He pulled up in front of my dad's place and laughed.

'He lives in a trailer?"

"Not for long if I have my way." I said.

"And you always get your way." He said.

I cupped his chin with my hand and made a kissing noise.

"You know me so well." I said.

"Whatever." He got out of the car and I did the same.

Dad must have heard the car pull up. Probably because no one ever came out this far…

"Hey Mia!" He smiled. "Jake." His grin left his face.

I hugged him. "Be nice." I whispered.

He groaned but hugged me back.

He ushered us to his deck to sit down.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" He asked, sitting down after grabbing us some cold drinks.

"What a daughter can't come to visit her father?"

"Of course she can. Does your mom know you are here?" He asked.

"She knows I am out with Jake if that is what you are asking." I smiled.

"Hmmm", was all he said.

"But no, she doesn't know I am here. That is what I want to talk to you about."

"Your mom?"

"Yes."

"What about her?"

"Not so much her as when you are going to pull your head out of your ass." I stated matter of factly.

Jake held out his hand. I reached into my pocket and slapped a five-dollar bill into it.

"Why are you giving him money?" Dad scowled.

"Because I am trying not to become one of those angsty teens who has to say loads of foul four-letter words to get their point across. Don't try to change the subject. You are all…mopey and crap. She forgave you. This is what you wanted. A second chance. She is handing it to you like a steak on a silver platter and you are crapping all over it." I ranted.

"There goes my eating steak for a while." Jake muttered.

"You need to watch what you eat anyway. A little chicken won't kill you. Not all red meat is good for you." I told him.

Dad looked at Jake.

"Does she always do that?" He asked him.

"Yes."

"And you are okay with that?" Dad asked.

"Yes. Figure it is good practice for when we get married." Dad glared. "Later, much much later." Jake amended.

"Dad, focus. You, mom, second chance."

He sighed.

"What if I mess it up again?"

"Do you plan on knocking her up and leaving her?" I asked.

'No!" He exclaimed.

"Okay then. What's the problem? You go to her, say you never stopped loving her, date her, woo her, bed her…but wait until I go stay at Aunt Cristina's. I don't wanna hear any of that…ever." I shuddered.

"You make it sound so easy."

"It is. You are the one making it hard."

He peered off into the distance, lost in himself. I stayed quiet for once, letting him work it out on his own. I checked my watch.

"Are you going to stew much longer?" I asked.

He looked at me in question.

"Well it's just I have a curfew and if I miss it again, Mom is gonna kill me." I explained.

"Again?"

"Flat tire." I said.

"Was it really a flat tire?" He was back to glaring at Jake, who held up his hands in defense.

"Swear to God." Jake said.

"Stop interrogating Jake. He is doing right by me. You, however, are making my mother feel like you are rejecting her."

"She told you that?" He asked, alarmed.

"Hello? I have lived with her for fifteen years. I am an expert on Meredith Grey. Every day you have doubts, that you take to think and to punish yourself is one more day that Mom curses herself for putting herself out there and making the first move. I don't like it. And I am starting to get pissed."

Jake started to hold his hand out. "No, you owe me for the 'h' bomb dropped on the way over here."

I looked at Dad.

"Now you are going to get over yourself and make things right. Do you understand me?" I yelled.

He looked taken aback.

"Uh…yeah. You do realize that I am the parent, don't you?" He asked, his eyebrow raised.

I stood up.

"Then start acting like it. You have twenty-four hours or else." I said.

"Or else what?"

"I call Grandma and my newfound aunts." I said smugly.

"You wouldn't."

"Try me. Come on Jake."

I leaned forward and kissed my dad's cheek.

"Dude, take a shower. You stink like stale beer and regret." I whispered.

He smiled and nodded.

"I love you, Mia. Also, thank you."

"Well, someone has to be a grown up." I joked.

He rolled his eyes.

"Get home before you get grounded. I will see you soon."

I waved as we pulled off.

"Do you think that helped?" Jake asked.

I took his hand.

"What do you think?" I asked.

"I think you might need to find a place to sleep for a few days."

I smirked.

"Exactly."