AN: This story written in response to the challenge by whimsicalone who won the game of recognizing origin of a reference made in the pink roses sequel. The prompts I was given were 1) Jessica/Seth story involving Grady, 2) Jessica's clam chowder and 3) phrase: "Old people don't have sex". As usual no beta, all mistakes are mine.

Grady paced the floor of the home he and Donna shared, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced at the clock. He had messed things up with Donna big time and desperately wanted to call his Aunt Jessica. She and Frank had been like parents to him after his own parents were killed in a car accident when he was still a child. He knew he could always count on her good advice, whether he took it or not was always another matter. Glancing at the clock again he knew it was late. He wasn't sure what time she usually went to bed but at 10 pm he imagined she had probably gone to bed much earlier, it seemed he was always hearing how older people went to bed early. Finally, he couldn't bear it any longer and picked up the phone, knowing that even if he did wake her, she would forgive him.

"Hello" Jessica answered cheerfully on the 3rd ring, not sounding at all like he had woken her up from a sound sleep.

"Hey Aunt Jess, I'm so glad I didn't wake you up. I need to talk to you," Grady's words started tumbling out over each other. "Donna started crying then packed a bag and she's gone to her mother's and I…."

"Now wait, just a minute," Jessica said calmly – trying to slow his rush of words. "Start over and tell me what happened from the beginning."

Grady felt better just hearing her calming voice and took a deep breath to try and organize his thoughts when he heard a clang and the deep rumble of a male voice in the background. "Did I catch you at a bad time, I didn't realize you had someone else there." He apologized as he again glanced at the clock thinking he was worried about waking his aunt up and here she was with company still at the house. "I can call you later Aunt Jess," he said suddenly feeling foolish for having interrupted her evening.

"Nonsense, you're fine, just give me a moment" – "Seth, it's Grady, I'm going to be awhile," Her voice was muffled as he imagined the phone pressed against her clothing.

"Dr. Hazlitt is there, are you ok? Are you sick? Do I need to come?" He immediately offered, suddenly worried about her health.

"Nonsense Grady, I'm fine, we were just cleaning up after dinner." Jessica laughed, "now tell me what happened with Donna."

Grady shook his head as if to clear it for a moment, not sure why the thought of Seth being there at that hour was unsettling but then brushed it off. Taking a deep breath, he finally launched into his story and an hour later, was feeling ready to talk to Donna the next morning after Jessica had given him some tips on how to make amends. He had failed to understand how Donna could have responded badly to what he thought had been a compliment regarding not caring if she gained weight. He had thought he was telling her he would always love her, and nothing would change that, even if she gained weight. She had heard him calling her fat.

2 months later

"Aunt Jess," Grady said warmly as he rushed to give his favorite aunt a hug as he rushed up the sidewalk of her home, Donna hurrying along behind him with the suitcases he had forgotten about in his haste to run greet his aunt. "I'm so glad we could come visit you for a few days."

"It's always wonderful to have you here," Jessica seemed genuinely delighted to see the young couple as she ushered them into the house.

Grady reflexively moved to put his coat in the closet since they would be visiting for a few days and thought he should leave the coat rack for any visitors. Grady was taken aback as he opened the closet to see a couple of coats as well as a few spare shirts already hanging there.

"Hey Aunt Jess…." He called still looking at the clothes in the closet in front of him

"Yes Grady," she came around the corner, her arm still around Donna

"I was going to hang up my coat but, well there's still some of Uncle Franks things here in the closet," he said uncertainly, "do you need me to take care of those for you?" He offered, confused as he had thought he had helped her clear out all of Franks clothes years ago.

"Oh, I'm sorry I should have told you to just use the rack. Just hang your coat right over there she directed as she closed the closet door without commenting further on the contents.

"But, but" Grady started to sputter before a look from his wife shut him up.

"You can put your things in your usual room," Jessica offered as she walked down the hallway with them. Grady peeked into some of the other rooms they passed, curious to see if maybe she had made some of them guest rooms, but as had been the case when he was last here, he wasn't seeing any other rooms made up for company.

"I'll let you two get settled in and start some fresh coffee, just come downstairs when you're ready." Jessica hugged them both again as she left them to unpack their few things.

"I don't understand it Donna," Why does she have men's shoes and clothes here if they aren't Uncle Franks." Grady whispered hoping his voice wouldn't carry as Donna began doing the work of unpacking their suitcases.

"Grady," Donna looked at him exasperated. "It is possible she has a, well a social life." She tried to be delicate.

"Social life, well sure, she goes out with friends, but someone leaving clothes here." He laughed incredulously, "No, I mean she's busy writing, she's a widow, I mean she's old." He almost hissed the last word, hoping there was no way he would be heard.

"Really Grady?" Donna rolled her eyes, "She's not old, she's mature. It doesn't mean she can't enjoy an intimate relationship." She tried not to spell it out but still saw the tips of Grady's ears go red at her words.

"No way, no no no, I mean Donna, you don't understand," he continued to whisper as his mind refused to comprehend what she was saying. "She can enjoy antique stores and art galleries and meals with friends but that's about it, I mean old people don't have sex, especially people like Aunt Jessica." He kept pushing, not at all aware of how irrational he had started sounding.

Donna loved her husband but couldn't believe how dim he could be sometimes. "Oh honey, do you think we'll suddenly stop having sex when we turn a certain age?" She tried to say sweetly hoping to help him understand.

"No, of course not, but It's different, we're well…. us," Grady clung to his denial.

"Honey, I know it's not something anyone wants to think about. I caught my parents having sex a couple years ago and well, I'm just glad they didn't see me. It was really embarrassing but eventually you just realize that our parents are still human in other ways." Donna kept trying to be empathetic and supportive of her husband but was beginning to feel as if she was fighting a losing battle, his denial apparently ran deep.

"But Uncle Frank…" Grady began again.

"Isn't here," Donna finished the sentence for him. "But listen Grady she's your aunt, that's all you need to know and what she is or isn't doing in her private life is none of our business. Just keep telling yourself that ok?"

"Maybe, I mean ok, I'll try," Grady grumbled and began trying to push the thought from his mind and affix a smile to his face as he and Donna walked downstairs again

"Hey Aunt Jess, we're all settled in and…. "Grady's voice trailed off as he saw her pouring a cup of coffee for the man at the table and all his good intentions were suddenly gone.