Welcome back! Thanks so much for reading these little stories so far and I'm hoping all of you will like this chapter too. It is thankfully longer than the last chapter, but this chapter has more in it so lol. Anyway, don't forget to leave me a review or a request, both are welcome.

I'd love to know what you think of my writing and I'd love to know what stories you all want to hear, with my last story coming out soon I've had some more ideas for this one as it opens up more stories to tell. Tell me what you think. Anyway, enjoy this chapter.

Montay tried to keep his hands from shaking as he fixed his hair for the tenth time. He had to meet Leigh at the restaurant soon but his hair just would not cooperate with him.

It was out of the corner of his eye he saw Grace walking past his room with a suitcase that made him turn around. Why would Grace be carrying a suitcase?

Montay followed his daughter before seeing the twins were being packed up and the family was getting ready to leave.

"The move," Montay said aloud. "I can't believe I forgot." He smacked himself in the forehead.

Grace and Lance smiled at Montay. Grace shook it her head. "It's okay, Dad."

Montay walked passed Celeste who entertained the year old twins. "No, Grace," Montay sighed. "You're moving to another dimension and I won't be there to at least see you off." He quickly went to the home communicator. "I'll call Leigh and cancel."

"No," Grace quickly got between her father and the communicator. "You're not allowed to cancel." She frowned at him. "You've had this planned for weeks, you're going."

Montay frowned back at his daughter, giving her a scolding look. "You've had your move planned since the twins were born. I refuse to miss seeing you off, and I need to open the portal."

"Franklin's got it." Grace stood her ground. "We'll be fine." She straightened her father's tie and dusted his shoulder. "Please, Dad. You haven't been on a date since before I was born."

Montay shook his head. "It's not a date." He shrugged. "We're just having dinner."

"Uh huh." Grace smiled. "Sure, but you're going to be late if you don't leave now and you can't keep Leigh waiting." She turned her father around and guided him to the door. "At least try to have some fun."

Montay tried to look at Grace. "Grace, I really think I should-"

"Have fun," Grace smiled. "Don't stay out too late, Mac should be home from work by the time you get home." She opened the door for him. "Remember to drive safe, be careful, and I love you."

Montay stopped in the doorway before gently hugging Grace. "I'll miss you, Grace." He kissed her head. "Remember to kiss the twins goodnight for me, and try to keep Lance in line."

"Okay," Grace laughed. "Now get out of here before Leigh thinks you stood her up."

Montay kissed Grace's head again before quickly kissing the twins' foreheads. "Don't grow up before Grandpa sees you again." He hugged Lance and shook Celeste's hand. "Bye everyone, I'll see you all soon." He slowly went out the door, a bit sad he would miss his daughter moving out. Also nervous because Grace was right, the last time he had been on a date was before she was born.

Luckily there wasn't any traffic so Montay wasn't really late but almost on time. Leigh was waiting for him outside the restaurant, smiling as he parked his ship and ran over to her.

"So sorry," Montay tried to smile. "Grandchildren."

Leigh nodded. "Yeah, little Dante and Duncan." She sighed, smiling sweetly. "How are the little sweethearts?"

"Fantastic," Montay actually smiled. "I swear they grow taller every time I turn around."

Leigh laughed. "Oh, I remember those days with Thomas." She sighed, some tears coming to her eyes.

"Oh," Montay frowning a little. "I'm sorry."

Leigh shook her head. "No, it's just that I miss him. You know?"

"As is your right." Montay nodded, smiling sadly. "And it's perfectly normal."

Leigh laughed weakly. "Some evening this has turned out to be." She dabbed her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Leigh." Montay put his hand on her shoulder, smiling gently. "Really, I understand." He led her to the restaurant. "Come on, before we miss our reservation."

They actually made their reservation on time and were quickly seated. Montay pulled out Leigh's chair and they sat across from each other. "So," Leigh smiled, "What is Montay up to?"

"Montay," Montay laughed, "is up to balancing life being a grandpa to twin boys and being a scientist." He nodded to Leigh. "How is Leigh?"

Leigh smiled. "Leigh is great, a little tired from her 80 hour work week but great."

"80?" Montay grimaced. "Remind me to never complain about my work hours ever again."

Leigh laughed, covering her mouth a little. "Oh, I will. Any new stills for me to look at?"

"A few," Montay brought out his stills frame, smiling a little. "Their mom has been getting ready to move so I haven't been babysitting as much."

Leigh lifted an eyebrow in confusion. "Move?"

"Yep." Montay tried to keep smiling. "Finally found a house so they can get out of mine." He handed over the frame for Leigh to look at stills of Dante and Duncan. "I'm going to miss being around them all the time."

Leigh smiled as she scrolled through the stills. "Hopefully not too far away so you can still babysit, I'll miss all these stills." She laughed at one. "They're getting so big."

"Yeah." Montay sighed. "But it is too far away." He looked down at the table, his chin resting on his hand. "Almost another world away."

Leigh smiled sadly. "Grace will just have to send you about a dozen stills a day then." She set the frame down next to him and put her hand on his. "And call so you can see them and checked on her."

Montay laughed weakly and smiled a little again. "That's a good idea." He suddenly looked away as he laughed.

"What?" Leigh smiled.

Montay looked back at Leigh, a smile in his eyes. "Do you remember when I told you I was a grandfather?"

"I do." Leigh laughed a little. "Grace had just had Dante and Duncan, you went and found me on the other side of the hospital and told me the good news." She smiled warmly. "Then I gave you my contact information so you wouldn't have to go looking for me."

Montay smiled wistfully. "Yeah." He laughed and shook his head. "How about we actually order dinner instead of just sit here and talk?"

"It's not like we haven't done it before." Leigh shrugged.

Montay grabbed the menu. "What would Leigh like for this evening's meal?" He showed it to her.

"Um." Leigh looked for a moment before smiling at Montay. "Surprise me."

Montay's smile turned shy. "I warn you I am a bit rusty." He turned the menu back to himself with a deep breath. "So let me apologize in advance."

"I'm rusty too." Leigh laughed. "It's been a long while since I've done this." She smiled. "I haven't had a date since I was in my 20s."

"My 40s." Montay smiled as he ordered their food. "Not since before my daughter was born. After Grace was born I was too busy with work and her mother really didn't have an interest in me anymore." He sighed.

Leigh nodded. "Medical school and then Thomas was born. I completely forgot about going for my doctorate, my son needed me."

"Grace needed me." Montay frowned. "I would come home to her screaming her head off. Alice never took care of Grace, so I took Grace to work with me and begged my superiors for child care at work. So at least she wouldn't starve or die when I was away." He realized what he said and apologized to Leigh. "I shouldn't have said that."

Leigh frowned and shook her head. "No, it's okay. I just don't understand how a mother could not take care of her own baby."

"Mother is a strong word for Alice." Montay nodded weakly. "I only married her because of Grace. And I knew what it was like to grow up without my father." He sighed. "Sure I had my stepfather but…."

Leigh took Montay's hands in her own. "It's okay, Montay." She tried to reassure him. "You took care of her, you were there for her when she needed you." Leigh smiled sadly. "And now she's ready, she's a mother herself and a great one. Her boys are thriving because she learned to be a real parent from you." She nodded firmly. "You willingly made yourself a single parent for Mac and Grace, and they're good people because of you."

"Yes." Montay tried to smile. "But may I just say that this date is going terribly." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry."

Leigh shook her head. "It's okay. We've just had our shares of hurts and we need to be honest with each other." She smiled. "But let's treat this like a new start because that really is what this is. I'm just happy to get to spend time with you. With both of us having such busy schedules."

"Well," Montay shrugged, smiling again. "One of us has a very busy schedule, and patients that always need them."

Leigh smirked. "And one of us is a busy General at the Research Society that needs a day off every once in a while."

"Let's make it official." Montay raised a glass to Leigh, "To new beginnings."

Leigh raised a glass in return. "To new beginnings."

After an evening of love and laughter, Montay came home to a dark and quiet house, saddened at the remembrance that Grace was gone. He opened the door to find Mac sleeping on the couch, Montay couldn't help but smile. Mac was always more comfortable sleeping on couches, rather than beds, something he got from his father.

If it had been years earlier Montay would have carried his son up to bed but now Montay was too old and Mac was too big. He grabbed a blanket and pillow from the linen closet, putting the pillow under Mac's head and covered him with the blanket Montay kissed Mac goodnight.

Seeing Mac sleeping on the couch had brought up some old memories Montay longed to keep hidden, and as he went to bed himself Montay remembered. How many times he had gone to bed alone, even when he was married. But now, with Leigh, Montay had new hope to be happy.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave me a review or a request. Anyway, see you next time!