~A Once and Again Series~
Where Do We Go From Here?
Chapter 12//About a Girl
Rick edged back into the bedroom quietly. He slipped under the covers, and laid his head down on the pillows. He stared up into the darkness and thought about what he had just seen. Grace coming out of Eli's room in the middle of the night....
He thought about the kiss he had witnessed between Eli and Grace....
He thought about Grace's pregnancy with the father of the child unnamed.............
Grace being pregnant, although they hadn't known she was dating anyone........
Eli wanting to spend so much time at Lily's house this past year rather than his mother's.......
Grace and Eli......
The pregnancy................
Rick closed his eyes painfully. He didn't want to come to the realization his thoughts were headed to. He didn't want to think that........ that........ Eli might be the father to Grace's baby. He couldn't think that. He just couldn't. But all the facts led in that direction. So, Rick tried to cut off any thoughts at all, so he wouldn't have to come to that conclusion. He was gradually falling asleep, his mind tiredly counting sheep when a cry rang out.
Lily moved next to him on the bed, but Rick stopped her from getting up. "I'll take care of him," Rick told Lily, and Lily gratefully went back to sleep. Rick went over to the baby's crib and picked up Dominic. Dom immediately stopped his cries as he was cradled in Rick's arms.
Rick sat down in the rocking chair which stood next to the crib and rocked as he waited for Dominic to fall back asleep. He stared down at the little angel in the moonlight which came from the window. Rick smiled as he remembered holding Jessie when she was a baby and holding Eli too........... It didn't seem like that long ago that they were both babes.
Rick took a deep breath. Was his child about to have a child of his own? The question haunted him.
* * *
Grace woke up with the haunting feeling that someone was looking at her. She looked around frantically and calmed down as she saw Eli leaning against her door frame.
"Good morning," He said.
"Don't you have work to go to?" Grace asked.
"Yeah," Eli grinned, and moved into her room, closing the door behind him. "I have exactly five minutes before I have to leave."
"Five minutes, huh?" Grace teased. They kissed... and kissed some more.
[[[[...Start of memory flashback]]]]
"Are you excited to be a senior?" Eli asked.
Grace smiled, musing over it. "I guess," She answered, going for nonchalant. They were hanging out in Eli's room, and it was two weeks before school started for Grace.
Eli saw through her, and smiled. "I guess you're going to have a great year... senior prom, and picking a college." He leaned back on his bed, and Grace looked at him from where she sat on the end of the bed.
"Yeah," Grace said. "It should be good..."
Eli sighed, "At least you're going to make something out of yourself."
Grace looked at him with a soft expression, "You have made something of yourself, Eli."
Eli shrugged.
"Your band is going good," Grace reminded him. Eli had recently started up another band called, Jonny Was. They had written many original songs already and had played a few gigs. They were starting to get a following.
Eli smiled, "Yeah, but that's not exactly what my parents would think of 'me making something of myself'."
Grace moved so she was propped up on her elbow next to him. "E... you know that it doesn't matter what your parents think... as long as you're happy with yourself."
Eli nodded, deep in thought. His parents had been pressuring him all summer to seriously think of starting up college in the fall... but Eli just didn't have that drive in him. He loved music, he loved his band... this was what he wanted to do. His parents tried to be understanding, but Eli could see they were disappointed.
"So, are you?" Grace said when she got no response out of Eli.
"Am I what?" Eli asked.
"Happy with yourself," Grace reminded him.
"Oh," Eli looked over into Grace's dark eyes. "Yeah, I guess."
Grace smiled, shaking her head, "That doesn't sound believable."
Eli smiled back. "Yeah?"
Grace looked down at the dark blue comforter on which they were sprawled and then back into Eli's eyes. "Is there something that COULD make you happier?" She asked.
Eli was silent for some time, and Grace was worried she was only bringing him down with her line of questioning, but then Eli looked back up at her and there was an unmistakable twinkle in his eyes.
"Yeah," Eli said finally. "There is."
"What?" Grace asked, feeling her heart start beating faster and faster as Eli's eyes lingered suggestively on her face.
"Grace?" Eli asked, his voice heavy.
"Yeah?" Grace whispered.
"You... mean a lot to me, you know?" Eli said, looking down at the bed.
"I do?" Grace croaked out, her cheeks growing warm.
"Yeah... you've just...." Eli shook his head slightly, then looked back into her eyes, "You..." He trailed off. They looked at each other. The room grew thick with intensity. It was the same feeling as when they stared into each other's eyes on the day of Lily's and Rick's wedding... they both knew they wanted to kiss each other.
They both knew they had to kiss each other. It seemed like their destiny for their lips to finally meet. But, instead of moving their heads towards each other, like they had on the day of the wedding, they were motionless.
"So, what was it.... that could make you happier?" Grace asked daringly, when neither one made a move to lean in.
Eli broke from his frozen state, and blinked. He smiled. "You," He stated in answer.
That was the trigger that finally sent them moving towards each other. They paused inches from the other, looking deeply into each other's eyes. They knew they were about to change everything, but they both knew it was right. They had been edging towards this kiss all summer, all last year (even with the whole Mr. Dimitri thing), all the year before that (even with the whole Carla thing)................. they had been heading for this kiss ever since their parents met, bringing them together in an unusual circumstance.
Then they surged forward, the last inches melting away. They kissed softly, testing the waters. Their lips slided against each other passionately. Smoothly. Wonderfully. Eli's hand came up, grasping the back of her neck gently. The kiss intensified, as they both let free.
They let go of all the worries and constraints that came with them being step-brother and step-sister, and they gave into the feelings that couldn't be denied any longer.
They let go.
They gave in.
[[[[....End of memory flashback]]]]
Four minutes and fifty seconds later, Eli pulled back. He looked at his watch. "I'll see you after work, then, okay?"
"Okay," Grace called after him.
Eli opened the door, walking out of Grace's room with a smile. He hurried down the stairs, not noticing Lily standing in the doorway to her and Rick's room.
"Grace?" Lily questioning, going to Grace's doorway.
"Yeah, mom?" Grace asked happily, as she went through her closet.
"What was Eli doing in your room?" Lily asked.
Grace turned, studying her mother. But her mother's expression was free of any misgivings... she was just curious. "Eli just wanted some good advice," Grace quickly lied to her mother, her good mood intact as she saw her mother didn't suspect anything between her and Eli yet.
"About what?" Lily asked with a smile.
"Oh, about a girl," Grace answered, knowing that that would only further push her mother's curiosity, but doing so anyways. She felt like teasing her mother some with a tantalizing lie... she was in that good of a mood.
"Really?" Lily asked. She looked intrigued, but didn't press the issue. She had been noticing lately that Eli seemed, well.... changed... and for the better. He was started a new job and seemed to have dropped the late nights of drinking and partying. Lily was glad that 'a girl' had done this for Eli. She was glad someone had finally gotten through to Eli.
"I'll see you later, then, honey," Lily said, backing into the hall. "Oh, I'm taking Dominic today, so feel free to do whatever you want!"
Grace turned back to picking out something to wear, but Lily's head popped back in. "...Your father would really appreciate if you went and saw him..." Lily hinted.
Grace nodded, "Alright... I'll go today."
Lily smiled, and left for real this time.
* * *
Grace had been kind of avoiding her father since she told him. She knew he wasn't happy about her pregnancy. And the fact that she still wouldn't tell him who the father was irritated him even more. But he was her father, and Grace hoped he could adjust to the way things were now... because he was going to be a grandfather.
Wow, that made her father sound so old. Grace hadn't thought in terms of grandfather yet.... and her mother was going to be a grandmother. Grace laughed to herself over the thought of her parents being grandparents, as she drove her Honda towards Booklovers.
"Grace!" Tiffany said, pleased as she spotted Grace coming into the book store/café.
"Hi," Grace greeted her step-mother. Tiffany gave her a warm hug.
"I heard about the baby being due on Christmas... that is so cool!" Tiffany said enthusiastically.
Jake popped out the office, and spotted Grace.
"Hi Dad," Grace called out. Jake hesitated, but then moved towards her.
"Hey honey," Jake kissed her forehead. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Grace said, "I just felt like coming to see you. Maybe we could have lunch?"
"Yeah, that sounds good...." Jake said distractedly, and Grace noticed him looking at her belly with a blank expression.
"I'm not getting big yet," Grace informed him.
"Oh, one more month, and you'll just balloon out there," Tiffany said with a laugh, holding her arms out in front of her.
"Jake?" A voice called.
Grace looked over her father's shoulder and froze. A pretty girl, of 19, was walking this way. She had long black hair and pale skin. Matched along with a pair of dazzling green eyes she was quite exotic-looking. Grace felt hatred growing up in her at the site of the girl who had caused so many problems for her and Eli.... Deanna Jones.
"Did you want to order more of the Martin book or the Schreiber book?" Deanna asked, coming towards Jake with a clipboard.
Jake thought it over, "Uh, just... the Martin."
Deanna nodded, scribbling herself a note. She looked up, brushing her black hair back from her oval face. "Grace!" She said in surprise.
Grace was just as surprised to see Deanna... in fact she was absolutely horrified. She had hoped she'd never have to see Deanna ever again. Not after what happened with Eli... and her. Grace's face tightened up as she looked on Deanna's smile. The girl didn't even know the destruction she had caused for Grace. "What are you doing here?" Grace asked numbly.
Deanna looked up at Jake with a wide grin, "Your father hired me back! I had gotten another job, but Jake called me up... and I couldn't refuse his offer. I love it here!"
Grace managed a small nod. She backed away towards the door. "Uh, sorry, Dad... I've got to do something. I forgot I had promised someone...." Grace trailed off. She took one last look at her father, Tiffany and Deanna, and left with a goodbye.
When she got in the enclosed silence of her car, Grace let out a small frustrated scream. She couldn't believe Deanna was back.... Deanna, the girl Eli had cheated on her with.
* * *
Where Do We Go From Here?
Chapter 12//About a Girl
Rick edged back into the bedroom quietly. He slipped under the covers, and laid his head down on the pillows. He stared up into the darkness and thought about what he had just seen. Grace coming out of Eli's room in the middle of the night....
He thought about the kiss he had witnessed between Eli and Grace....
He thought about Grace's pregnancy with the father of the child unnamed.............
Grace being pregnant, although they hadn't known she was dating anyone........
Eli wanting to spend so much time at Lily's house this past year rather than his mother's.......
Grace and Eli......
The pregnancy................
Rick closed his eyes painfully. He didn't want to come to the realization his thoughts were headed to. He didn't want to think that........ that........ Eli might be the father to Grace's baby. He couldn't think that. He just couldn't. But all the facts led in that direction. So, Rick tried to cut off any thoughts at all, so he wouldn't have to come to that conclusion. He was gradually falling asleep, his mind tiredly counting sheep when a cry rang out.
Lily moved next to him on the bed, but Rick stopped her from getting up. "I'll take care of him," Rick told Lily, and Lily gratefully went back to sleep. Rick went over to the baby's crib and picked up Dominic. Dom immediately stopped his cries as he was cradled in Rick's arms.
Rick sat down in the rocking chair which stood next to the crib and rocked as he waited for Dominic to fall back asleep. He stared down at the little angel in the moonlight which came from the window. Rick smiled as he remembered holding Jessie when she was a baby and holding Eli too........... It didn't seem like that long ago that they were both babes.
Rick took a deep breath. Was his child about to have a child of his own? The question haunted him.
* * *
Grace woke up with the haunting feeling that someone was looking at her. She looked around frantically and calmed down as she saw Eli leaning against her door frame.
"Good morning," He said.
"Don't you have work to go to?" Grace asked.
"Yeah," Eli grinned, and moved into her room, closing the door behind him. "I have exactly five minutes before I have to leave."
"Five minutes, huh?" Grace teased. They kissed... and kissed some more.
[[[[...Start of memory flashback]]]]
"Are you excited to be a senior?" Eli asked.
Grace smiled, musing over it. "I guess," She answered, going for nonchalant. They were hanging out in Eli's room, and it was two weeks before school started for Grace.
Eli saw through her, and smiled. "I guess you're going to have a great year... senior prom, and picking a college." He leaned back on his bed, and Grace looked at him from where she sat on the end of the bed.
"Yeah," Grace said. "It should be good..."
Eli sighed, "At least you're going to make something out of yourself."
Grace looked at him with a soft expression, "You have made something of yourself, Eli."
Eli shrugged.
"Your band is going good," Grace reminded him. Eli had recently started up another band called, Jonny Was. They had written many original songs already and had played a few gigs. They were starting to get a following.
Eli smiled, "Yeah, but that's not exactly what my parents would think of 'me making something of myself'."
Grace moved so she was propped up on her elbow next to him. "E... you know that it doesn't matter what your parents think... as long as you're happy with yourself."
Eli nodded, deep in thought. His parents had been pressuring him all summer to seriously think of starting up college in the fall... but Eli just didn't have that drive in him. He loved music, he loved his band... this was what he wanted to do. His parents tried to be understanding, but Eli could see they were disappointed.
"So, are you?" Grace said when she got no response out of Eli.
"Am I what?" Eli asked.
"Happy with yourself," Grace reminded him.
"Oh," Eli looked over into Grace's dark eyes. "Yeah, I guess."
Grace smiled, shaking her head, "That doesn't sound believable."
Eli smiled back. "Yeah?"
Grace looked down at the dark blue comforter on which they were sprawled and then back into Eli's eyes. "Is there something that COULD make you happier?" She asked.
Eli was silent for some time, and Grace was worried she was only bringing him down with her line of questioning, but then Eli looked back up at her and there was an unmistakable twinkle in his eyes.
"Yeah," Eli said finally. "There is."
"What?" Grace asked, feeling her heart start beating faster and faster as Eli's eyes lingered suggestively on her face.
"Grace?" Eli asked, his voice heavy.
"Yeah?" Grace whispered.
"You... mean a lot to me, you know?" Eli said, looking down at the bed.
"I do?" Grace croaked out, her cheeks growing warm.
"Yeah... you've just...." Eli shook his head slightly, then looked back into her eyes, "You..." He trailed off. They looked at each other. The room grew thick with intensity. It was the same feeling as when they stared into each other's eyes on the day of Lily's and Rick's wedding... they both knew they wanted to kiss each other.
They both knew they had to kiss each other. It seemed like their destiny for their lips to finally meet. But, instead of moving their heads towards each other, like they had on the day of the wedding, they were motionless.
"So, what was it.... that could make you happier?" Grace asked daringly, when neither one made a move to lean in.
Eli broke from his frozen state, and blinked. He smiled. "You," He stated in answer.
That was the trigger that finally sent them moving towards each other. They paused inches from the other, looking deeply into each other's eyes. They knew they were about to change everything, but they both knew it was right. They had been edging towards this kiss all summer, all last year (even with the whole Mr. Dimitri thing), all the year before that (even with the whole Carla thing)................. they had been heading for this kiss ever since their parents met, bringing them together in an unusual circumstance.
Then they surged forward, the last inches melting away. They kissed softly, testing the waters. Their lips slided against each other passionately. Smoothly. Wonderfully. Eli's hand came up, grasping the back of her neck gently. The kiss intensified, as they both let free.
They let go of all the worries and constraints that came with them being step-brother and step-sister, and they gave into the feelings that couldn't be denied any longer.
They let go.
They gave in.
[[[[....End of memory flashback]]]]
Four minutes and fifty seconds later, Eli pulled back. He looked at his watch. "I'll see you after work, then, okay?"
"Okay," Grace called after him.
Eli opened the door, walking out of Grace's room with a smile. He hurried down the stairs, not noticing Lily standing in the doorway to her and Rick's room.
"Grace?" Lily questioning, going to Grace's doorway.
"Yeah, mom?" Grace asked happily, as she went through her closet.
"What was Eli doing in your room?" Lily asked.
Grace turned, studying her mother. But her mother's expression was free of any misgivings... she was just curious. "Eli just wanted some good advice," Grace quickly lied to her mother, her good mood intact as she saw her mother didn't suspect anything between her and Eli yet.
"About what?" Lily asked with a smile.
"Oh, about a girl," Grace answered, knowing that that would only further push her mother's curiosity, but doing so anyways. She felt like teasing her mother some with a tantalizing lie... she was in that good of a mood.
"Really?" Lily asked. She looked intrigued, but didn't press the issue. She had been noticing lately that Eli seemed, well.... changed... and for the better. He was started a new job and seemed to have dropped the late nights of drinking and partying. Lily was glad that 'a girl' had done this for Eli. She was glad someone had finally gotten through to Eli.
"I'll see you later, then, honey," Lily said, backing into the hall. "Oh, I'm taking Dominic today, so feel free to do whatever you want!"
Grace turned back to picking out something to wear, but Lily's head popped back in. "...Your father would really appreciate if you went and saw him..." Lily hinted.
Grace nodded, "Alright... I'll go today."
Lily smiled, and left for real this time.
* * *
Grace had been kind of avoiding her father since she told him. She knew he wasn't happy about her pregnancy. And the fact that she still wouldn't tell him who the father was irritated him even more. But he was her father, and Grace hoped he could adjust to the way things were now... because he was going to be a grandfather.
Wow, that made her father sound so old. Grace hadn't thought in terms of grandfather yet.... and her mother was going to be a grandmother. Grace laughed to herself over the thought of her parents being grandparents, as she drove her Honda towards Booklovers.
"Grace!" Tiffany said, pleased as she spotted Grace coming into the book store/café.
"Hi," Grace greeted her step-mother. Tiffany gave her a warm hug.
"I heard about the baby being due on Christmas... that is so cool!" Tiffany said enthusiastically.
Jake popped out the office, and spotted Grace.
"Hi Dad," Grace called out. Jake hesitated, but then moved towards her.
"Hey honey," Jake kissed her forehead. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Grace said, "I just felt like coming to see you. Maybe we could have lunch?"
"Yeah, that sounds good...." Jake said distractedly, and Grace noticed him looking at her belly with a blank expression.
"I'm not getting big yet," Grace informed him.
"Oh, one more month, and you'll just balloon out there," Tiffany said with a laugh, holding her arms out in front of her.
"Jake?" A voice called.
Grace looked over her father's shoulder and froze. A pretty girl, of 19, was walking this way. She had long black hair and pale skin. Matched along with a pair of dazzling green eyes she was quite exotic-looking. Grace felt hatred growing up in her at the site of the girl who had caused so many problems for her and Eli.... Deanna Jones.
"Did you want to order more of the Martin book or the Schreiber book?" Deanna asked, coming towards Jake with a clipboard.
Jake thought it over, "Uh, just... the Martin."
Deanna nodded, scribbling herself a note. She looked up, brushing her black hair back from her oval face. "Grace!" She said in surprise.
Grace was just as surprised to see Deanna... in fact she was absolutely horrified. She had hoped she'd never have to see Deanna ever again. Not after what happened with Eli... and her. Grace's face tightened up as she looked on Deanna's smile. The girl didn't even know the destruction she had caused for Grace. "What are you doing here?" Grace asked numbly.
Deanna looked up at Jake with a wide grin, "Your father hired me back! I had gotten another job, but Jake called me up... and I couldn't refuse his offer. I love it here!"
Grace managed a small nod. She backed away towards the door. "Uh, sorry, Dad... I've got to do something. I forgot I had promised someone...." Grace trailed off. She took one last look at her father, Tiffany and Deanna, and left with a goodbye.
When she got in the enclosed silence of her car, Grace let out a small frustrated scream. She couldn't believe Deanna was back.... Deanna, the girl Eli had cheated on her with.
* * *