Title: A Chance at happiness 2/?

Author: Christen (purplehaysc@netscape.net)

Disclaimer: these characters belong to once and again except any characters you don't recognize

Distribution: Take it, but let me know. If you have any of my other fics, go ahead.

Comments: email me all you comments and suggestions. This is my first once and again fan fic so any ideas or comments you have would be great. So please email me with them. J

Grace was standing out side the on the curve stilling waiting for her ride. She hasn't shown up and she was getting worried.

"Grace, You lost or something?"

She turned around shock to see Eli coming towards her. "No, I'm not lost I'm um…"

"Who sent you here to check up on me?"

"No one."

"Oh so they don't know you are here. I see so you came to check up on me. For a girl who doesn't want to talk to me, you sure are going out of your way to get near me."

"Just because I happen to me within a 50 foot radius of where you are doesn't mean I'm checking up on you."

"Grace just because I barely passed high school doesn't mean I'm stupid. Obviously your ride forgot you so get in the car I'm taking you home."

"Why should I?"

"Well for starts it's almost 12: 30 and it's dark out side and you're alone."

"Good point but I'll only get in the car with you on one condition."

"Oh and what's that?"

"You tell me why you bolted when she started to wake up."

"Lily, honey why don't you come to bed?"

"Because my daughter is out some where's alone."

"Why don't you try putting a little trust in your daughter and know that she will come home safely."

She gave him a mean look. "This isn't the same. Grace can't take care of herself like Eli can."

"Lily, she'll be ok I promise. Do you want me to go and start looking for?"

"No, she'll call and I'll give her till 12:30."

"Ok if that's what you want to do."

"Ok, so we are here which means all questions stop now."

Grace got out of the jeep. "Like you even answered any of my questions, so why does it matter?"

"Good point either way you're going to stop asking me questions which you know I'm not going to answer."

"That's fine with me it's not like I even want to talk to you."

"Right." They headed into the house.

When they closed the door, Lily and Rick got up. The moment Lily saw Grace she ran over and hugged her.

Grace looked at Rick. "What's wrong with her?"

Lily backed away. "What's wrong with me? Where have you been? It's 12:30 and don't tell me you were at the library it closed three hours ago."

"I was…" Grace started to speak.

Eli interrupted her. "She was at the library. I ran into her when she was leaving and I started talking to her and well I lost track of time. I'm sorry, Lily."

Lily looked at Grace who did not say anything.

"So let me guess you didn't see you mother?" Rick said.

"No, I didn't."

"So if you didn't have to bring Grace home would you have even said anything?" Rick said.

"I would have. Dad, it's not like I wanted to lie to you…"

"But you did and now your mother almost dies and you can't even take the time to go and see her in the hospital."

"That's exactly right I'm just to busy to even care about my mother! Is that really what you think of me?"

"What do you expect me to think?"

"Why do I even try? Tell Jessie to come and talk to me if she needs me."

Eli started to leave.

"So you're just walking away?" Rick said.

"I'm leaving before some else I care about say something they wouldn't be able to take back." He said as he walked away.

Rick turned to Lily. "Can you believe him!"

Lily looked at him. "Actually the person I can't believe is you. Come on Grace you need to go to bed, you have school tomorrow."

"Sure." She hugged her mother and walked by Rick and started to say something but decided not to. She just walked off with disgust.

"Ok what just happened to you and where did the wonderful man that I had been sitting here with go?" Lily asked as she sat down on the couch.

"I'm still here. I haven't left."

"And what was that? You just attacked the poor kid."

"The poor kid?"

"His mother if you've forgotten almost died last night and he needs people to talk to not to argue with."

"Well he seems to have found that in Grace."

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"Well it's better than her being his drug supplier."

"That's a positive way of looking at."

"That's the only way of looking at it."

"Well I'm going to bed and so are you because I have a show to do tomorrow and you have work and all of all kids are safe for now. Our jobs are done for the night though I did a better job then you any way." She smiled.

"Ok really?"

"Of course."