~A Once and Again Series~

The Way We Where

Okay, thanks for reading/reviewing as always! Oh, and the song Eli plays is the song he played in the episode "I can't stand up for falling down"--- because I'm not talented at song-writing, so I wouldn't dare make up my own.

Chapter 20//Unexpected Feelings

"Okay, it's not quite finished..." Eli warned.

Grace leaned forward, ready to listen.

Eli looked up at her, smiled, and looked down at his guitar. He began to play the song he had been working on. He took a small relaxing breath and began to sing the words. He wasn't used to singing in front of people.

"Put your ear close to the ground, do you hear a fading sound?"

Grace watched him, totally absorbed by the beautifulness of his voice.

"If it's lost, for getting found... it's me."

"A vagabond with no address. Fire in the wilderness..." Eli stopped singing and looked over at Grace almost shyly.

[[Grace - *looks completely mesmerized* ...He's amazing...]]

Grace couldn't help but smile at the adorable look on his face. She shifted on the edge of his bed, and nodded. "I love it."

Eli set down the guitar on his floor, and swung his feet up, so his whole body was on the bed. "Really?"

Grace followed his suit, and moved further up on the bed, leaving only a foot between them. "Yes."

Eli picked up a notebook. "I'm having trouble writing the next line, though."

Grace scooted even closer, so she could lean in and read what he had.

Eli looked at her profile as she looked over the notebook. Her brown hair brushed against his shoulder. The scent of lavender invaded his nose. He breathed in it, liking the scent.

[[Eli - Grace is... just, *brow ceases as he thinks*... is just an overall amazing girl. I don't know anyone else like her.]]

Grace drew back, and Eli focused his slightly dazed eyes on her. "Any suggestions?"

Grace smiled shyly. "I'm not a song writer."

Eli was silent, sensing that she had thought of something. Grace looked down at her hands, and then back at him, "How about 'the patient's losing conciousness'?"

Eli ran the words over in his head, fitting them to the music. "I like that."

Grace smiled in delight. Eli smiled back at her.

[[Eli - She's got the prettiest smile...]]

* * *

"Are you sure no one's here?" Lily asked, as she and Rick entered his apartment.

"Positive. The kids are at Karen's." Rick turned on the lights, gave it a second thought, and dimmed them.

Lily laughed as Rick drew her into his arms, "We're like teenagers."

Rick nibbled on her neck, and Lily forgot about being amused as she sank into his embrace. They stumbled over to the couch.

* * *

"Okay, now where do my fingers go?" Grace asked, as she held Eli's guitar in her hands.

"The first one goes there, the second here, and..." Eli laughed as Grace looked perplexed. He moved over, and sat behind her. He put one leg on either side of her, trying not to notice the warmth of her body against his. He took her left hand in his, and helped her position her fingers. "Now strum," He instructed, his voice slightly heavy.

Grace strummed. Eli couldn't see her face from his position. A look of pure joy, passion, and need all tangled into one danced in her eyes. She leaned back, ever so slightly, and felt her back touch his upper body.

Eli repositioned her fingers with his left hand for the next chord, and let his right hand fall on the side of her right thigh.

[[Eli - I didn't expect this... I didn't plan to feel this way about... her... about Grace.]]

Grace trembled slightly, her body feeling like it might explode if she didn't turn around and kiss him... really kiss him.

[[Grace - * touches her lips lightly with her fingertips*]]

[[Eli - *wets his lips with his tongue*]]

Eli let his left hand run up her arm, until it reached her shoulder. "Grace..."

"What was that?" Grace asked.

"Hmmm?" Eli asked, moving his head closer to her neck, thinking of how soft it looked. He opened his mouth slightly.

Grace moved forward, getting off the edge of the bed. Eli felt air where her body had been. Grace moved to the door, listening. "Someone's here."

"Oh," Eli said, disappointed. "It's probably just my dad."

Grace nodded, and began to move away from the door, but then she heard her mother's voice.

"Oh, Rick!"

Grace's mouth dropped open and she quickly backed away from the door. Her face was filled with utter disgust.

"What?" Eli asked, smiling at the odd expression on her face.

"My mom's out there too," Grace explained. She looked towards the closed door again. "I think they're having sex..."

"Oh!" Eli said in surprise, and then thought about it. He laughed.

Grace looked at him, "It's not funny... it's gross."

"I know, but..." Eli said, breaking off into laughter. His laughter faded and he looked up at Grace. "Look's like we're stuck in here, until they're done."

Grace nodded, a slightly amused smile growing on her face.

* * *

A half an hour later, Eli checked at the door. He returned to the bed where Grace lay, and shook his head. "There's still some noises..." He told her.

Grace's face wrinkled in disgust. Eli sat down on the bed next to her. Grace pulled herself up into a sitting position, and held up the notebook. "What about 'This light...this rain... this life... this pain' for the bridge?"

Eli sang the words softly. "This light... this rain... this life... this pain."

Grace smiled at his wonderful voice, singing her words.

"That's perfect," Eli announced when he finished.

Grace smiled.

* * *

"You are incredible," Rick said to Lily a little while later, as he held her naked body in his arms.

"Mmmm," Lily mumbled, and they drifted into silence.

The silence was broken by the telephone. Lily jumped in surprise, and Rick walked over to the phone. "Hello?" Rick said as he picked up the phone.

"Hi," Karen's voice greeted him. "Could you tell Eli to bring back Jessie's purple sweater when he comes home. She says it's on her bed."

"Wait, tell Eli what?" Rick asked, confused.

"To bring Jessie's sweater back with him," Karen repeated.

"Eli's coming over here?" Rick asked loudly, and shot a look at Lily, who was still undressed. Lily began to frantically put on her clothes. She threw his boxers, shirt, and pants at Rick. Rick caught them and pulled on his boxers.

"He isn't there already?" Karen asked in surprise. "He left earlier, saying he wanted a quiet place to practice... hmm, maybe he's on his way home."

Rick's eyes widened at that, and as he was pulling his pants on, he caught site of Eli's jacket on the counter. "Oh, no, I think he's here..."

Lily's gasped and she buttoned up her shirt.

"Okay, then ask him, okay? Jessie's purple sweater on her bed," Karen reminded him.

"Got it," Rick said, hanging up the phone.

"Should I go? I should go..." Lily said as Rick looked over at her.

[[Lily - *look of embarrassment, puts face in hands* ...we were really loud...]]

[[Rick - *slightly nervous* We weren't that loud... were we?]]

"No, don't go. Just let me go see if he's up there." Rick went up the stairs. He knocked at Eli's door, and swung it open, without waiting for an answer.

He looked inside the room, and saw Eli and Grace just getting up from his bed. The blankets were slightly crumpled, but Eli never made his bed, did he? It wasn't because they were having doing anything like he and Lily were doing downstairs... no, it couldn't be, Rick reassured himself.

[[Rick - *silence, worried fatherly look* I've talked to Eli about sex... many times. But he's just a teenager... how much of that sinks in?]]

"Dad!" Eli said quickly. "I didn't realize you were home." He looked over at Grace, nervously.

"Yeah, uh, Lily and I just got here," Rick said quickly. "Why don't you two come downstairs?"

Eli and Grace followed Rick down the stairs, where Lily awaited them. Lily was surprised when she saw Grace. "Grace, what are you doing here? Does your dad know you're here?"

"Yeah, dad knows," Grace answered. "Eli and I were just working on a song."

"Oh," Lily said. Grace wouldn't quite look her in the eyes, and Lily wondered what her daughter was holding back.

[[Lily - Is... Are they a couple now?]]

[[Grace - Oh, God, I can't even look at my mother, after hearing her and Rick... yuck!]]

"Well, I was just leaving. Grace, why don't I give you a ride back to your dad's?" Lily asked.

"Uh, actually, Eli was going to give me a ride. We were going to get something to eat. Dad said Eli and I should stop at the restaurant for dinner." Grace explained.

"Jake said that?" Lily asked. Grace nodded. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, then."

Grace and Eli headed to the door.

"E?" Rick called after them.

Eli turned, a worried look in his eyes.

"Your mom said to bring Jessie's sweater back with you. It's on her bed." Rick said.

Eli nodded, losing his nervous look. "Right," He said, and hurried off to Jessie's room.

Rick looked at Grace after Eli went up the stairs. "How's school going?"

Grace looked over, her eyes pausing briefly on him, before looking away. "It's fine."

"Are you--" Rick began, but Eli was coming down the stairs again, having made the trip in record time.

"Let's go," He said to Grace.

Grace nodded. "Bye."

"Wait, Grace, Eli!" Lily said, stopping them.

"Hmm?" Grace asked. Eli was silent.

"Are you guys dating?" Lily asked. She looked over at Rick, who was awaiting the answer just as eagerly as she was.

"Uh, no," Eli said quickly and he and Grace left.

Lily looked back at Rick. Rick looked at her, sharing in her confusion.

* * *