Title: A Chance at happiness 81/?
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 oh people I have been reading the reviews and the very least I can see if first OMG! I am so shocked I have gotten so many reviews. If you have any other questions then email me at purplehaysc@netscape.net Oh and after finding out about the cancellation of the show I've found it harder to write some reason because when I watch the show inspiration comes so…
"You look very handsome." Karen said smiling as Eli came down the stairs.
"Thanks, I think." He said nervously.
She laughed. "Having a problem?" She asked as he came over to her.
"This tie, I just can't get it." Eli said as he tried tying it one more time.
"Here let me help." Karen said as he came closer
"Thanks and people wonder why I don't ever wear these. This is why." Eli said smiling.
"So why are you here? Why aren't you getting ready at your dad's?" Karen asked.
"Because Grace would kill me." Eli said smiling.
"The dress thing? I thought you said you brought her another dress?" Karen asked confused.
"I did but I made sure not to tell her till… well until she puts it on." Eli said.
"That was very sly and dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
"Well if I was her I would have killed you by now."
"Well that's why I'm not there, that's why I'm here." He said smiling.
"Ah, so there is some sort of a brain up there."
"Yes and every once and while it decides to work." Eli said laughing.
"You know I just got to say it one more time…" Karen started to say.
"No, I'm leaving." Eli said as he grabbed his keys.
"Bye E, I love you." She said as he started to leave. "And you look very handsome." She said as he slammed the door.
Jessie slipped on her baby blue dress and spun around. For the first time in a long time, she actually thought that she looked good in a dress. She hoped that Katie thought so.
"You look beautiful." Rick said from the doorway.
Jessie jumped. "You scared me."
"Sorry I didn't mean to." Rick said as he came into the room.
"Do I really look beautiful?" Jessie asked nervously.
"Almost too beautiful, too beautiful for me to let you go out." Rick said smiling.
Jessie sat down on her bed next to Rick. "That means a lot, it really does." She said smiling.
"I've got one question." He said.
"What?" She asked worried.
"What did you do to my little girl?" He asked.
A tear slid down Jessie's face. "She's still here, she just happened to finally decided to grow up."
"Well is there any way I can get her back?" Rick asked.
"Maybe if you are really nice to me, she'll come back but just for you." Jessie said smiling.
"Ok I'll work on that." Rick said as he got up. "And I'm going to let you finish getting ready.
"Yeah well now that you've ruined my makeup, I have a lot of work to do." Jessie said sniffling.
"Sorry about that." Rick said as he gave her a kiss. "And you really do look beautiful." He said as he started to leave.
Grace came out of the bathroom, her hair was fixed but she was still in her bathrobe. She was a little scared to see what her dress looked like. It was hanging on her door under a bag. "Ok well let's get this over with." Grace said as she opened the bag. "Oh my God." Grace said as she looked at the dress. It was a dark red dress, with two slits on both sides and spaghetti straps that crossed three times in the back. There was a necklace hanging on the hanger that was black rose with matching earrings. She took the dress off and slipped it on. It fit her perfectly. She found a note pinned on the bottom. She took it off.
"Grace, I hope you like the dress. It took me and Coop hours to find the perfect one, but if you like it then it's all worth it. Can't wait to see you in it. Love, E."
Grace smiled and laughed. "Only you E, Only you." She said as she put the jewelry on.
"That can't be my eldest daughter can it?" Jake asked.
Grace turned around shocked to see Jake standing in her door way. "Daddy." She said as she hugged him.
"Watch out, you wouldn't want to ruin you make up." Lily said as she came in.
"You knew about this didn't you?" Grace asked her.
"We both did. She called me." Jake said.
"So how does it look?" She asked both of them.
"Gorgeous, just gorgeous." Jake said smiling.
"And you? What do you think?" Grace asked her mother.
"I think you are going to have one of the best nights of your life." Lily said tearing up.
"Is something wrong?" Grace asked.
"You just… I didn't think you'd grow up this fast." Lily said.
"Well you still have Zoe to go through this with and you also have Mady." Grace pointed out.
"Not the same thing." They both said at the same time.
Grace laughed. "I know, um I don't mean to be rude but I need to finish getting ready. If that's ok with you two?"
"Yeah we get the hint." Jake said getting up. "We'll see you down stairs." Jake said as he gave her a kiss and left.
"Gracie, I want you to know that you will never be replaced no matter how many daughters I have." Lily said.
"I know mom believe me I know."
"Dad, where is Grace and Jessie? We've been here for ten minutes." Eli said.
"Oh I don't mind. You're family's nice." Katie said.
"You say that because you don't really know them." Eli said.
"Eli!" Rick screamed.
"What it's true?" Eli said defensively.
"What's true?" Judy asked as she came in.
"That you can't really like my family." Eli said.
"Now I'd have to agree with him on that." Judy said.
"Hey you're a member of this family. How can you say that?" Lily asked defensively.
"Excuse me?" Jessie asked as she came down the stairs.
"Jessie…"Katie said getting up.
"What do you think?" Jessie asked nervously.
"That you are the most beautiful girl I ever seen." Katie said smiling.
"No, I think I come into a close second to you." Jessie said.
"How did you ever get her down here?" Rick asked Peg.
"With much hard work." Peg said.
"E, thanks for bringing Katie here." Jessie said as she walked over to him.
"No problem. So it looks like you did finally get your hair fixed." Eli said smiling.
"Yeah no thanks to you." She said sarcastically.
Eli smiled. "Well I did warn you."
"Yeah you did. So where exactly is your date?" She asked.
"I don't know." Eli said as he looked at Peg.
"Hey don't look at me! I sent Barbara to get her. She got the harder one I think." Peg said smiling.
"I have no doubt about that." Jake said smiling.
"No doubt about what?" Grace asked from behind him.
"Grace, you look…." Eli started to say.
"Beautiful, gorgeous, pretty, come on which one?" Grace asked sarcastically.
"I was going to say you look sensational, but if you'd prefer…." Eli started to say.
"No don't." She said smiling.
"Grace, you look very pretty." Aaron said and Grace turned around.
"Uncle Aaron, what are you doing here?" Grace asked as she hugged him.
"Judy's boyfriend came and picked Miriam and I up." He said smiling.
"Thanks Sam." Grace said as she saw Sam come in followed by Miriam and Jamie.
"No problem." Sam said smiling.
"So where are you going?" Aaron asked Grace.
"I'm going to prom with Eli. You remember Eli, right?" Grace asked as she led him into the living room.
"Yeah I do." Aaron said as he looked at Eli.
"Aaron." Lily said as she went over and hugged her.
"Surprised?" He asked.
"Very." She said smiling.
"Ok we're finally leaving. And please don't try to stop us. There are no more picture that can possibly be taken." Eli said as he tried to pull Grace away.
"Aww come on." Rick said smiling.
"No, we are all pictured all." Jessie said with her hands up.
"So people say your goodbyes because we are leaving." Grace said.
Lily went over to Grace. "Have a good time, sweetie." She said as she hugged Grace.
"I'll make sure of that." Eli said smiling.
"And you be careful." Rick said to Eli.
"Well shoot, you just ruined my whole driving off the cliff plan." Eli said joking.
"That humor of yours may just get you off a cliff." Jake said smiling.
Eli laughed. "I know many people have told me that."
"Bye Jessie, I hope you have fun." Lily said as she hugged her.
"Thanks Lily, but I don't think you have to worry. Katie here will make sure I have fun." Jessie said smiling.
"I don't doubt that for one second.." Rick said smiling as he came up.
"Eli, be care with my granddaughter will you?" Barbara said as she came up to him.
"I'll treat her with the up most care." Eli said smiling.
"Yeah you better." Judy said walking up.
"You know my grandson's very lucky." Peg said as she came up to Grace.
"Thanks, I think but I think I'm the one who is lucky here." Grace said.
"I wouldn't bet on that one." Eli said as he came up to her.
"Katie, I wanted to thank you for making my granddaughter so happy." Peg said to her.
"Well Mrs. Sammler I didn't really do that much." Katie said.
"Don't sell your self short, you did a lot." Jessie said as she walked up.
"Ok I want one more group picture." Karen said.
"Ok it is official I am seeing spots." Grace said as she tried to walk and almost fell.
Eli caught her. "Mom, please I beg you no more pictures. I'd like for my girlfriend to actually be able to walk straight when we get there."
"Yeah or they may just thinks she is drunk." Jessie said laughing.
"That's a possibility that didn't cross mind." Grace said.
"Well Jessie has one of those special minds that no one else has." Eli said smiling.
"Ok, I'll stop if two don't start one of your brother/ sister fights." Karen said pleading.
"Promise, plus I wouldn't let him ruin my hair again any way." Jessie said smiling.
"That's not the only thing I'd ruin." Eli said.
"Please don't rip another dress." Grace said pleading.
Everyone laughed.
"Hey guys, we're going to be late if we don't leave now." Katie said as she looked at her watch.
"So mom, that means we have to go." Eli said.
"I know I know." She said.
Eli walked over to her and gave her a kiss. "I love you." He said.
"Same here and Grace thanks for letting me get one chance to see him dressed like this." She said as she smiled at her.
"Well it was bound to happen sooner or later, whether he wanted to or not." Grace said smiling.
"Ok will two ladies stop plotting against Eli, please." Henry said.
"Thanks Henry, finally a man who agrees with me that these monkey suits are horrible." Eli said smiling.
"No problem." Henry said smiling.
"Ok my turn." Jessie said as she came up.
"Jessie, honey you look wonderful and I mean that." Karen said as a tear fell down her face.
"That means a lot." Jessie said.
"And Katie thank you so much for making my daughter so happy." Karen said.
"I don't really think I'm responsible…" Katie started to say.
"Take it, Katie because she doesn't say many nice things very often." Henry said.
"That's not true." Karen said defensively.
"Ok before you two start arguing more, I'm going to say bye." Jessie said as she gave Karen a kiss.
"You three be careful." Karen screamed as they closed the door.
"Tiffany, is Mady asleep?" Jake asked as Tiffany came into the room.
"Yeah, finally." She said as she came into the room.
"Good because I have something for you." Jake said smiling.
"Should I be scared?" Tiffany asked smiling.
"Depends on what scares you." Jake said as he took out the box.
"Jake…. What are you doing?" Tiffany asked worried.
"I'm about to ask the women I love to spend the rest of her life with me." Jake said as he opened the box.
"Oh my God!" Tiffany said shocked as Jake got down on one knee.
"Tiffany, will you spend the rest of your life with me even though you know all my faults?" Jake asked.
"Yes, of course I'll marry you with all your faults that I love so much." Tiffany said.
Jake got up, took out the ring, and slipped it on her finger. "This may just be the biggest mistake you've ever made in you life." Jake warned.
"I don't care." Tiffany said as she kissed him.
"So are two ready for everything?" Eli asked Jessie and Katie.
"Yes, I think we are finally ready." Jessie said as she took a deep breath.
"Well whatever happens we'll be here for you." Grace said.
"Thanks that helps." Jessie said smiling.
Eli led Grace into the room, followed by Jessie and Katie.
"Hold on to me tight." Jessie requested.
"You don't have to worry, I'm not leaving your side." Katie said as she held her hand tight.
(I knew I loved you by Savage Garden started to play)
"How about we dance?" Katie asked as Jessie.
"I liked that."
"Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question.
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant"
"Can I have this dance?" Eli asked Grace.
"Definitely." She said as Eli led her to the dance floor.
"And there it goes
I think I've found my best friend"
"How do you feel?" Katie asked Jessie whose head was rested on her shoulder.
"I feel like we're the only two people in the room." Jessie said smiling.
"In my mind we are." Katie said as she rested her head on Jessie shoulder too.
"I know it might sound more than a little crazy
But I believe"
"I hope this never ends." Grace said.
"Why's that?" Eli asked.
"Because I've never felt this loved before in my life." Grace said.
"I know the feeling." Eli said smiling.
"I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life"