Title: A Chance at happiness 10/?
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
"Ok let me tell you something before you go and order another cup of coffee. I don't have a lot of money so find another way to avoid talking to me that doesn't involve my money depleting very quickly." Eli said.
Grace put her cup down. "I'm not trying to avoid talking to you. Actually I think you're trying to avoid talking to me."
"Now why would I do that?"
"Because you don't want to have to tell me why you were up last night when I screamed, why you bolted from your mother's room, why you lied about where we were and why you always run." Grace said with a smile.
"So many questions for such a small brain." Eli said.
"Oh don't even try that. It's not going to work."
"Try what?" He said with a smile.
"Don't try to start making me bicker with you so I'll forget the questions you haven't answered." She said.
"Oh that's what I was doing. I did not even realize it. So you want me to answer the many questions of Grace?"
"That would be nice."
"As long as you promise to answer my questions."
"Which are?"
"What were you dreaming about last night, why were at the hospital, what exactly is doing on with you and your English teacher and will you ever forgive me for missing you concert?"
Trying to avoid the numerous questions, she looked at her watch. "Oh shoot!"
"What?"
"My dad and the baby are supposed to come over tonight. Eli, we have to go back."
"No way! Come on you don't even like your dad." Eli said.
"I may not like him but this little girl is my sister and she's going to have to grow up with him as a father and I want to make sure that she knows that I will always be there for her even when he not."
Eli wiped a fake tear from his eye. "Ok, that's was so sweet, but seriously Grace if we do back, they will be no turning back."
" I know."
"So is she really worth it?"
"Is Jessie really worth it?"
Everyone was sitting down at the table and Lily was staring the phone, hoping it would ring.
"Lily, how's the radio job going?" Jake asked.
She looked up quickly. "It's going fine." She said.
"How's book lover's going?" Rick asked.
"It's going pretty well." Judy said.
The phone rang. Lily picked it up after the first ring. "Grace?" She asked hoping.
Rick looked at her and mouthed the words. "Is it Eli?"
She shook her head. "Mrs. Sammler?"
"Yes, this is she. Who is this?" She asked getting worried.
"This is visa calling to telling you about a great opportunity we have for you…"
"No, I'm sorry we aren't interested. Bye." She hung up the phone and sat back down.
Jake could tell something was wrong and that it involved Grace. He got up. "Lily, do you think you could help me prepare a bottle for the baby, in the kitchen?"
"Sure." She got and followed Jake into the kitchen.
As soon as they got in their, Jake turned to her. "Lily, where's is Grace?"
Lily looked at him shocked. "She's at a drama meeting just like Rick said."
"Lily, I understand that you and Rick would like to solve these problems on your own but this involves my daughter and I think I deserve to know what's going on!" He said.
"Nothing is going on." Grace said as entered the house followed by Eli. She went over to her father and hugged him. "But it's nice to know you care." She said and then looked at the baby in his arms. "Can I hold her?" She asked.
"She's your sister." He said.
She picked up the little girl. "Hi, I'm your oldest sister, Grace. And I want you to know something, I'll always be there for you." She said and the baby cooed.
Jessie, Rick, Judy, Sam and Zoe came in.
Eli went over to Jessie and hugged her. "You know I remember when I first got to hold you too." He said.
Jessie smiled. "I bet I was the cutest baby you'd ever seen."
"Well you were the cutest baby sister I'd ever had."
Zoe walked over to Grace. "Can I hold her?"
"How about we hold her together, the three Manning sisters together forever." She said with a smile.
Eli looking at the three of them and he knew that it was worth.