Title:  Reunification

Author:  Lisbeth

Disclaimer:  I do not own these characters

Rating:  PG-13

Feedback:  Please.

E-Mail:  strangefruitgirl@hotmail.com

Authors Note:  I'm sorry I haven't updated sooner, but the web page keeps messing up on me.  (Note to fanfiction.com staff – this is really beginning to crease me!) As for those readers curious about "Njosnavelin," it is by the band Sigur Ros.  It is supposed to be on their new album that is coming out this fall.  I have yet to find a studio version I can download, so I had to settle with a live version.  I downloaded it from Audiogalaxy (www.audiogalaxy.com) or one could even try Kazaa.  I honestly think it is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, and it was pretty much all I listened to over and over again while writing Chapter 14. I hope that helps those who are looking for the song. 

                        Also, I didn't mean to offend people with the horny readers joke.  I just have an odd sense of humor, so, sorry if some readers took it the wrong way.

Chapter 15:  There Goes The Fear

            As Grace, Judy, and Lily folded and packed up Barbara's things, the conversation was alive and active.   Judy and Sam had arrived a few days earlier and were staying in Zoe's room, much to her dislike. 

            "So, we're going to look into it some more when we get back to Sydney.  At first, I was kind of afraid to approach it as an option even, but now, it looks as if we may have no other choice." Judy said as she wrote her mothers name on her clothes tags.

            "Adoption – I think it's a wonderful idea." Grace said.  "You and Sam should do it."

            "Are you sure you've exercised all of your options?" Lily asked.

            "We've been to three fertility specialists.  It's not like I can't have kids, it's just that we've been trying for a good long while now and I would like to have a child before I hit fifty."

            "Well, it's going to be a long process I'm sure, but I think you two will make good parents." Grace said as she smiled at her aunt.

            "Me too." Lily said.  "You know I just love how we are up here doing the grunt work while Sam and Rick are outside shooting hoops.  Isn't egalitarianism great!"

            "Do we really have to write moms name on every single pair of socks she has?"

            "Yes we do!  The home was adamant about doing that so that none of her stuff will get misplaced." Lily said.

            "It's depressing."  Grace added in.

            "But it's just what we have to do." Judy said.  "Let's change the subject please.  So, how is Zoe doing at Booklovers?"

            "She does a little bit of everything I think.  Whatever Dad needs her to do, she does."  Grace replied.

            "You could probably get a job there now that you don't have to watch mom anymore, right Lily?" Judy said.

            "I don't know.  August and I sort of came up with this idea of publishing a local journal for both the written and visual arts; we were talking about it a few days ago.  Plus, in a few days he will be meeting with a publisher from Terrence Hill Publishers about his book of poetry."

            "Is he nervous?" Lily asked.

            "If he is, he's doing a good job at disguising it.  I don't think he is though." Grace said.

            "I can't believe I forgot about that!" Judy whispered aloud.  "So, you two are seeing each other now, in the open?"

            "Yes, and it's going beautifully." Grace responded.

            "I'm still trying to get used to it.  Now that I think about it, I don't ever think I'll be used to it." 

            "Oh Lily, don't be so dramatic." Judy sneered at her.  "I think the journal sounds good.  Do you have a title for it yet?"

            "Muse." Grace replied.

            "Muse – I like that!  Where did you guys come up with that title?" Judy said.

            "Well, we were just tossing out words and he mentioned muse.  He said it was perfect because I am his muse." Grace said with pride.

            "That's a good title."  Lily said.

            The phone rang. 

            "I'll get it." Grace said as she walked out of the room.

            For a few seconds silence ensued between the two sisters, until Judy continued the conversation.

            "Are you really alright with her seeing that man?"

            "It's not like I have a choice, now do I?  You know what though, I'll admit, I'd like to see her with someone closer to her own age, but he makes her happy.  She spends more time at his place than she does over here.  Zoe hasn't been complaining these past few days though."

            "Have you spoken to him yet?"

            "A few weeks ago at Katie's art show.  He cut his hair off; I'll admit, he's a handsome man, if you're into his type."

            Judy laughed.  "Oh goodness.  Well, she could be with someone her own age who would treat her like crap, or someone who is twenty years older and holds her on the highest pedestal."

            "At the art show, they were hardly apart, and when they were together, they were either holding hands or her arm was around his.  It was like one of them would die if they broke contact."

            "Don't you think you're overdoing it?" Judy asked smartly.

            "Yes I am, but it's normal to have these kinds of thoughts right?  The thing is, I like him.  I can honestly say that I like the guy.  I really don't have anything against him that would give me a reason to logically despise him.  The age is one thing, but Grace is going to do what she wants to do no matter what I say."

            "Well, dear sister, accept it.  They've had sex.  I can tell."

            Lily stood with her mouth open, trying to come up with the words to say.  "I don't want to hear this!  Besides, how can you tell?"

            "It's just something that us girls can tell."

            "Then why can't I?"

            "Because she's your daughter."

            "Can we change the subject please?"

            "Fine.  You just have to accept that she's grown up."

            "I have accepted that!  It just doesn't feel like it sometimes, that's all."

            Grace walked back into the room to find it silent all of a sudden. 

            "What?" she said with her trademark deadpan tone.

            "Nothing." Lily and Judy said at the same time.

            "Ok, I don't want to know what I missed out on."

            "So who was on the phone?"  Lily asked.

            "August.  He wanted to know if I was going to spend the night over there."

            "I would like it if you would spend a little more time over here while your Aunt Judy is in town."

            "Well if you don't want me to go, then I won't.  He'll understand."

            "Grace, I'll speak for your mother.  Go."

            "Judy!" Lily blurted.

            "Oh come on, we'll be here for five more days."

            "Thank you Aunt Judy."

            "So, you and Sam are going to come back for Karen's wedding right?" Lily asked.

            "Sure, we'll be here.  I'm going to go visit her tomorrow.  You should come Lily."

            "That sounds like a good idea." Lily said.

On Sunday mornings, the alarm clock was never set.  But on this Sunday, it was different.  Grace lifted her head from August's chest as she heard its sound.  Grace rolled over and hit the snooze button. 

            "Please tell me you accidentally set the alarm for 7:00." Grace whispered as she put her head back on his chest.

            "Nope.  I wanted to get an early start.  Tuesday I have that meeting with the publisher."

            "You're going to get published; I just have a feeling." Grace said as she kissed him.  "But do you have to do it this early in the morning?"

            "There's a lot to do.  I won't have that much time tomorrow because of an exam in one of my classes."

            "I can help you study." Grace said as she began to kiss him.

            "We won't get much studying done like this." August said as he continued to kiss her.

            "Party pooper."

            "Yes I am."

            "So, do you know which poems you're going to take out yet?"

            "I have an idea on a few, but not too much.  We have to keep our readers entertained."

            "You won't have a problem with that." 

            "How did the packing go yesterday?"

            "It was weird.  You know how when someone dies, you go and pack up all of their stuff and put it off into storage or give it to charity.  It felt like we were doing that, even though she is alive.  Some of the stuff is going to the home, but the other stuff is going to be put in the attic.  I can't help but feel that a part of her is gone.  We had to write her name on all of her things, even her underwear.  I don't think I would want to spend the last few years of my life in a place like that."

            "You'll be able to visit her though."

            "But every time I think of that place, I automatically think of death.  It's a place where people send you to die almost; when you've become too much of a burden.  Or maybe, they just don't want to think of the fact that you're time is almost up, so they send you someplace where you won't be a constant reminder day after day of what will come eventually.  We always used to joke with mom that she should be nice to Zoe and I because we would be the ones who would pick out the home she would stay at." 

            "It's not a death house.  Your problem is that you feel sometimes that you have to carry the world on your shoulders.  You worry about stuff just a little too much.  I think that it was a smart decision to send her there."

            "She doesn't remember setting the loveseat on fire anymore."

            "You shouldn't feel guilty about her disease.  I think you have to look at this as something to make your family stronger.  It's a sad situation to have it done, but it is almost always in sad situations when a family is reunited.  I remember a cousin of mine who died ten years ago.  Her mother and my mother weren't really on speaking terms at the time, but at the funeral, they just came together.  All of the stupid bitterness between them was put aside.  They eventually talked things over, and now, I wouldn't say that they're best friends, but my Aunt Martha is always invited for the holidays."

            "I just tell myself at times that if I am ever diagnosed with it, I don't want to live.  I want to remember everything I can about you and my family – everything.  I don't want it to fade away."

            "We've got our whole lives ahead of us.  It's like you said, there's nothing to be afraid of." August said as he kissed Grace.  "It's getting harder….." he tried to say while kissing her "……and harder to get out of this bed."

            "That is my goal." Grace whispered deviously as she kissed him and started to take his shirt off.

            August smiled, knowing that he wouldn't be getting as early a start as he intended. 

            Booklovers was crowded with the usual customers. There were a few college kids doing their homework.  A weekly book club met to discuss the topic of choice while soft jazz was played over the speakers. 

            "So let me get this straight.  Grace is now seeing Mr. Dimitri?" Karen asked in disbelief.

            "Yep!  Would you believe that they actually met in one of her classes?"  Judy said.

            "How are you taking it Lily?"

            "Well, I'm still trying to climb that ladder.  Why are we always talking about Grace's love life?  Karen, let's talk about the wedding.  Jessie mentioned that it was going to be at the Delroy's."

            "Yeah.  They're good friends of ours and they offered to loan us their backyard for the occasion.  We weren't really planning on having a big wedding though, just something small an simple."

            "So, how many people have you invited so far?" Judy asked.

            "Around forty-five so far.  I'm going to look at invitations in a few weeks.  The Delroy's offered to let us have the reception over there also.  Henry is in charge of hiring the caterer though.  This is a two party wedding; the bride and her family aren't doing everything."

            "Are you excited?" Judy asked.

            "Of course I'm excited!  I think Jessie may be more excited than I am though.  Eli is supposed to be coming down too with Hayden."

            "Oh, she's a sweetie." Lily added.

            "Well, you're all invited.  Oh yeah, Lily, tell Grace that she is more than welcome to bring Mr. Dimitri." Karen said with the excitement of a woman in love. 

            The three women continued to chat over latte's.

            In August Dimitri's living room, the sounds of the National Public Radio newsbreak was blaring throughout the living room.  Grace sat on the sofa typing away on her lab top computer while occasionally flipping through her notes. It was amazing how much work could get done in an hour she thought as she was nearing the end of the paragraph.  Even though there was still three weeks until the paper was due, Grace was a few hours short of putting the finishing touches on her paper.  She had more than enough resources and was ready to present Dr. Sutton with her sources of research if requested.  It felt good to get that out of the way.  Her other courses weren't as challenging, but she was still doing pretty well in them.  But overall, her favorite class was her Russian Literature class.  August still sat next to her and it peeked at Sharon's curiosity at times.  Grace remembered one of their conversations before he walked into class one day.

            "So, I know that guy and you had an interesting little debate sort of a while back about Chekov, but now you two are sitting next to each other?  I'm sorry, I know it's not my place to pry, but I'm just a little curious." Sharon said.

            "Well, actually, we've known each other for a few years."

            "Oh, so you met August in Boston?"

            "Not really.  We met at my high school."

            Sharon gave Grace a weird look.  "You two attended high school together?" Sharon said deadpan.

            "He was my teacher in high school."

            "Really.  Why isn't he teaching anymore?"

            "Oh well, he took a few years off.  He's working on his PhD."

            "You two must have been really good friends then to just strike it up again."

            "Yeah, you could say that."

            "It's almost like the two of you are dating."

            "If only you knew." Grace said to herself. She kept quiet and was relieved to see August walk in the classroom with Dr. Sutton following him in a few seconds later.

            Grace was shaken out of her trance when she heard the doorknob being turned.  August walked into the living room and placed his satchel on the chair and went to kiss Grace.

            "How did it go?" Grace asked.

            "I really can't say right now.  The representative said that I could hear something in a matter or weeks, or even months." August said as he began to undo his tie.

            "What's wrong?"

            "I have a headache."

            "Did you take something for it yet?"

            "Yeah.  It's better, but I can still feel its presence.  What are you working on?"

            "My research paper.  I should be done in about an hour or two."

            "I'm not even on my tenth page, and you're already finished." August said as he went to sit on the sofa.  "How many pages is yours?"

            "I'm figuring I'll be at 28 when I'm done, including the references and cover sheet, etc."

            "Just thinking about it makes the pain come back." August said jokingly.

            "Come here." Grace said as she closed her lab top and placed it on the coffee table.  She grabbed a pillow and sat Indian style, placing the pillow on her legs.  August moved to her side of the sofa and lay his head on the pillow.  Grace turned the light off from the lamp and began to run her hands through his hair.  He relaxed and closed his eyes as the music programming came back on the radio station.  Grace moved her fingers to his temples and began to run her fingers in a small circular motion. 

            "How long ago did you take something?" Grace asked softly.

            "Thirty minutes ago." He replied back.  "That feels good.  Your hands are soft." His left hand reached for her left hand, still massaging his temple. 

            "Just relax." Grace said as she continued.

            "I don't have a feeling about Terrence Hill; usually my gut will tell me something, but it isn't this time."

            "Don't worry about it.  If Terrence Hill doesn't want to publish you, we will find someone who will.  They're not the only publishing company out there you know.  Don't let it bring you down."

            "You won't let it; I know." August said as he began to relax even more.

            Grace moved her head down kissed his forehead.  August smiled as her hair tickled his face. 

            "My day is complete!  I made you smile." Grace said as she then went to kiss his lips.  She continued with the temple massages as August fell into a light sleep.