Title:  Reunification

Author:  Lisbeth

Disclaimer:  I do not own these characters

Show:  Once And Again

Synopsis:  While attending grad school, Grace runs into someone from her past

Rating:  PG-13

Feedback:  It would be greatly appreciated.

E-Mail:  strangefruitgirl@hotmail.com

Authors Note:  First, I want to thank all of the people who have been reading and reviewing my little pet project.  Writing it has helped me cope with the possibility that our show may not return.  Second, I'm doing a shameless promotion of a band I just discovered called The Doves by mentioning them twice in the series.  It was almost impossible for me not to devote this title chapter to the song which is my personal favorite.  I would recommend listening to it to get a better feel for the story.  Once again, thanks for all of the wonderful reviews and I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 8:  The Man Who Told Everything

As Grace walked into Rumi's, she immediately looked around to see if August was there.  All of her worrying was for nothing.  In fact, she was early.  Grace walked up to the counter and ordered a regular cup of joe.  As she took her cup and walked to an empty table in the non-smoking section, she was beginning to relax with her surroundings. Once again, the college radio station was playing an eclectic mix of music.  As Grace listened, she recognized "Have You Forgotten" by the Red House Painters.

            There were a few college students still walking around the campus and Rumi's was starting to fill up with students who weren't quiet ready to go home.  Grace observed the people walking in and out and then he walked in.  He looked around and then he spotted her.  He immediately smiled at her as he began to walk towards the table she was sitting at.  He was carrying his leather satchel with him and was wearing a pair of slacks with one of his trademark long sleeved button down shirts.

            "Hi" he said as he reached the table.

            "Hey.  Are you just getting out of class?"

            "Oh no, I've been out for a while.  I'm going to go order something at the counter.  Do you want anything?" he asked.

            "No thanks.  I'm still working on my first cup." Grace said as she raised her coffee mug slightly in the air.

            "I'll be right back then." August said smiling as he turned around and walked to the counter.

            Grace's eyes lingered on him as he walked to the counter.  She then noticed his satchel resting on the chair.  It was filled with both books and papers.  Grace automatically assumed that he must have been doing research for one of his classes, maybe even Dr. Sutton's character analysis paper.  Before she could stop herself, August was back at the table with a steaming cup of coffee.  Grace smiled at him as he put his satchel on the floor and sat down.  He reached for the sugar and began to pour it in his cup as he started the second day of their reunion.

            "Is it me, or is Rumi's coffee too strong?"  August asked.

            "It's too strong.  I can get a cup of decaf but I put so much sugar in it, it totally defeats the purpose of drinking decaf in the first place." Grace responded.

            "So, have you started on your research paper yet for Dr. Sutton's class?"

            "I've been looking into it.  I'm not too worried though.  I have other classes to worry about besides that one."

            "Let me guess, you're doing a character analysis about 'On Love.'"

            "Am I that transparent?" Grace said.

            "Yes you are." August said as he smirked.  "Well, you are sometimes."

            "Ok, lets change the subject.  No paper talk please.  I have enough to worry about besides that."

            "So, does your mother know that you're here, talking to me?"

            Grace looked at him with a serious tone radiating on her face.  "No.  I told her I was meeting some people from one of my classes.  I want to keep this to myself; at least, to a very limited number of people."

            "How many so far?" August asked.

            "Well, there's Jessie, Katie, who by the way says hi, and my sister Zoe.  I've sworn them to secrecy though.  We don't have any Alexa's to worry about." Grace said with a slight tone of bitterness in her last sentence.

            "I'm not worried."

            "Me neither.  For once, I'm not that worried.  It could be a first for me."  Grace said as she took a sip from her coffee.  As she put her mug down on the table, she noticed him looking at her and that gleam in his eyes was ever so present.

            "What?" Grace said.

            "Nothing.  It's just that I was thinking the other day about how much you have changed, but still a lot has stayed the same.  There are moments when you never cease to amaze me."

            Grace looked down at the table as she felt the blush creep up on her face.  She looked at him with genuine wonder in her eyes and couldn't help but think that their story was somehow going to end on a sad note.  It didn't bug her in her stomach, but with all of the emotional disappointments she had grown accustomed to, she was just about ready to add one more to the list. 

            "You don't have to say that." Grace replied.

            "Maybe I have to." August said.  "There are a few things that we need to clear up.  I'm sure you have moved on with your life."

            "I have." Grace said as she looked at him.  She laughed suddenly.  "Your hair.  I like it.  Five years ago I wouldn't agree, but now, it suits you."

            "And what about you?  Does it sound so juvenile when I watched you walk into that classroom and see some of those boy's eyes follow you across the room.  I was so jealous.  I knew it was you the moment you walked into the room."  He said as he spoke in a slight daze.  "I was actually replaying some Jeff Buckley song in my head."

            "Jeff Buckley fan?  Isn't he amazing?"

            "Yes, he is.  How long have you been a fan?"

            "For about three years.  A friend of mine in Boston loaned me the cd, and I just fell in love with it.  He would sing me to sleep at night sometimes.  It's stupid, but I considered his music my boyfriend for a while. And you?"

            "Eight years.  I just don't listen to folk music you know."

            "I wasn't going to say anything." Grace said smiling at him.

            "I know I tortured you all in high school with that stuff."

            "Hey, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm into Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and even a little Dylan because you pretty much force fed it on us."

            "Gee Grace, you make it sound like you were in some boot camp." August said as he smiled at her. 

            The two began to laugh a little at the last few comments not just because it reminded them of days gone by, but also because of the slight hint that the conversation may have begun to dry up in some areas.  It would only be a matter of time before their last few days together five years ago would come up. 

            Grace looked around the café and saw that it was now almost filled up.  Her eyes wandered over to see who was there just out of curiosity.  When she finally made her way back to the man sitting across from her, she found him staring at her.  It wasn't entirely a stare of longing, but almost a stare filled with dread.  It was a stare she hoped she would never receive.

            "What?" Grace asked for the second time that night.  "What is it?"

            "Your eyes – they still look so lonely.  It saddens me at times."

            "There's nothing to be sad about.  Things are good for me." Grace lied, but she knew that he wouldn't buy it.

            August continued to look at her and then began to speak, "but the memory of the graceful fair-haired woman remained in my mind all those days, I did not think of her, but it was as though her light shadow were lying on my heart."

            Grace remembered the passage from the Chekov story.  "What, you're quoting Chekov now. I always thought that guys were supposed to quote Shakespeare to impress the ladies."

            "Well, I'm not like other guys Grace, you should know that."

            "Please don't."  Grace said with a slight hint of dread.

            "Please don't what?"

            "Please don't do this." Grace said before she took a deep breath.  She summoned up all of her courage with what she was about to say because she knew that it was now or never, but she wouldn't be able to continue.

            "I'm sorry Grace.  I should of known that you would have been seeing someone.  It was stupid of me."

            Grace looked at him in bewildered shock.  He thought she was seeing someone.  Some of the haziness that was in her head faded a little as she looked at him.  "Look.  I'm gonna be flat out honest here.  I'm not going to bull shit around with this or somehow try to sugar coat it for you.  When you left five years ago, I honestly felt like a part of me was taken and I never really ever got it back.  I was young then, I know.  I didn't understand the way the world worked like I do now, but you never left me.  I haven't been able to truly love another person because of that."

            "Grace" August said

            "Please let me continue.  When I first saw your name on that sheet, I honestly considered dropping the class.  But the more I thought about it, the more it hit me that this class was a means to closure.  We never reached closure five years ago.  I never thought of 'you'll find an ending to your story' as a way of end our own story.  I think we never concluded things, and I haven't really been able to move on since then.  You've had me for five years." Grace said as tears began to form in her eyes.  "So yes, my eyes are still lonely.  I'm a good liar.  I had to do it for five years with my family – pretend that I didn't feel for you what I did.  Date guys in Boston and look for you in those guys.  I looked for you for five years.  I am not willing to have my heart break like that all over again.  I can't deal with it.  So, I need for you to just lay your cards on the table for me.  I just need to hear you say that we can be friends.  That's all."

            August looked at her and then down at his coffee.  The silence between them was so thick that someone could cut it with a knife.  Even though it stretched only for a few seconds, it felt like years for Grace.  She wiped her eyes and tried to compose herself, but it was getting harder and harder as his silence continued.  In the cafe, The Doves "The Man Who Told Everything" was beginning to play. 

            "Say something please." Grace said.

            Get out of bed.  Pick up the phone.  Time to tell the press.

            Say to myself, I can't do no one else.

            There's a whole world outside

            August looked up at her and gave her a slight smile.  He looked at her and she looked away immediately, trying to hide the new tears forming from him.  When she looked back at him, one was beginning its slow slide down her cheek.  Before she could go to wipe it away, August reached across the table and took it with his thumb.  Grace slightly backed away, but eventually gave in.

            I'm gonna tell it all.

            I'm gonna sell it all.

            I'm gonna sell

            Get out of bed

            Come out and sing

            Blue skies ahead

            The man who told everything

            "I want you to know that you were constantly in my thoughts.  I didn't want to leave, but at the time it seemed like it was the only thing I could do.  I never once forgot about you Grace.  I could never forget you."

            And I feel, like I'm losing my head

            I didn't mean to stay

            "I looked for you.  When I was in Australia and Boston, I would always have to give a double take to someone who resembled you.  I had a hope that you would find me somehow.  God, here I am, a twenty-two year old, sounding like a fifteen year old.  For a while I was mad at you for doing what you did.  I thought you were going to at least stay, but then one day I drove by your house, and you were gone.  It pissed me off to think that you would not bother trying to remain in contact with me.  It's selfish, I know, but I couldn't help but think that you weren't just running away from your teaching career, and your writing, but also from me and whatever feelings you may have had."

            Lives have been wrecked, and I've picked up my check

            Catch a plane out of here

            I'm gonna get out of here

            "Grace.  I had feelings for you, feelings someone in my position should never have had.  I honestly thought that I could of controlled them, somehow telling myself that when our time came, we would be able to figure something out.  But, as we both know, some people put a stop to that.  I thought that it would all calm down with time, but when you kissed me, and I didn't push you away, I knew that I had to go.  I knew that it had gone too far.  I wasn't willing to risk everything for something only we two could understand, something the rest of the world wasn't even remotely ready to understand.  As much as we both knew how strong our connection was, no one else would have been willing to see it from our side of the line.  It would have been a lost battle from the beginning.  It was foolish to run away, but I didn't know what else to do.  I didn't want to do more damage to you or anyone else."

            "You never damaged me."  Grace whispered to him.  "You saved me.  You made me believe that I could do things that I never thought I would be able to do.  You gave me courage to walk through this world unafraid.  I had so much fear inside of me, even if I didn't want to admit it myself, but you took it away.  I am now me, the real Grace, because of you."

            "You're my muse." August said.  "You got me writing again - the stories and poems I created."

            "You saw me when no one else even bothered to look.  I am always going to be so grateful to you for that."

            "How could I not see you?" August replied softly. 

            As the two continued their conversation, laughs were eventually shared.  Grace's soft eyes were beginning to dry up and she hoped that no more tears would be shed that night.  She worried about having to wake up the next morning and explain why her eyes were so puffy.  While she knew that somewhere down the road, her family would have to find out about her renewed friendship with August Dimitri, she wanted these moments to herself.  She didn't want to share them with anyone else.   

            Topics shifted just as the hours of time did.  While Grace was working on her forth cup of coffee and August on his third cup, the two of them were talking about the latest Peter Carey novel.  It was then that August reached over to his satchel that was placed underneath the table.  He pulled out a binder and slid it across the table to Grace. 

            "What is this?" Grace asked.

            "It's a collection.  It's stuff that I haven't sent out yet.  I figured it would be interesting to turn the tables.  Now its time for you to critique me, but please, break me gently if you must."

            "I would be honored." Grace said as her fingers softly grazed the binder.  She smiled up at him and looked around to see that the café was empty except for the two of them.  "I think they're ready to go home over here." Grace said.

            "Oh geez," August said as he turned his head and looked around.  "I completely lost track of time.  It's 9:45.  I think they close at 10:00."

            Grace began to laugh.  "I can't believe we've been here for almost five hours.  It doesn't feel like it.  I don't want it to end."

            "It doesn't have to end.  You're acting like we're never going to see each other again.  I'm not going anywhere." August said.

            The two of them got up from the table and walked out of Rumi's, wishing the remaining workers a good night.  As the two of them walked toward the parking lot, a silence ensued them.  There were a few people walking around the campus, and the loud blues music from the restaurant next door was blaring. 

            "Can we just walk for a little while?"  Grace asked.  "I'm not ready to go home yet."

            "Sure." August said.

            "I just want to go put this in my car first." Grace said referring to the binder he gave her.

            As the two walked to her car, Grace unlocked it and softly placed the binder on the passenger side seat.  She noticed that his car was just a few parking spaces away.  After locking the door, they walked to his car where he put his satchel in the trunk. 

            Some of the lights in the campus buildings were still illuminated.  Grace felt the slight wind comb her hair and she closed her eyes relishing the moment.  For a moment, she thought to call home and tell them that she would be a little late, but she let the thought slip as soon as it came into her head. 

            "You know, I couldn't really see myself having a relationship knowing that you were still out there somewhere.  I thought you were seeing somebody."

            "Let's just walk.  No past. No present. No future.  Just you and me, and this long sidewalk." Grace said as she looked at him.

            As the two walked down the path, August on the left and Grace on the right, Grace was twiddling with her fingers, enjoying the company of August.  As she dropped her hands to her side and took in a deep breath, August reached for her left hand with his right hand.  Grace applauded his suaveness in her head as she held on this hand.  The two continued to walk as they glanced at each other every now and then, sharing smiles.  It was odd because it was as if he knew what she was thinking and what she wanted to say just by looking at her.  His look was one of reassurance and comfort.  It was then that Grace was grateful to the inches added to her height in the past five years.  They were on a more even level now.  They continued to walk hand in hand.

            "So, what was the Jeff Buckley song you were singing in your head?  I'm just curious." Grace asked.

            "Everybody Here Wants You."

            Grace laughed slightly. "You've got to be kidding me.  I would never of guessed that one."

            "Just call me Mr. Surprises."

            "That's true.  Forgive me for underestimating you."

            "You're forgiven oh gracious one.  And just for the record, I never underestimated you."

            "You don't have to tell me.  I know." Grace said giving him a smile in return.

            "It's a beautiful night." August said.

            "Yes, it is."  Grace responded as they continued to walk.