Title: Strong Enough Chapter 4
Author: Nicki C.
Email: Nimacu@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I don't own Once and Again or the characters
Summery: Eli gets advice from someone who's been there
Feedback: Of Course I want it.
A/N* I'm trying a new way to write conversations; it just really seemed to fit for this chapter. If it gets confusing just remember that it goes back and forth between the two people
Eli couldn't believe he'd said that; pushed her away when all he really wanted was to have her near. To have her love him. He knew she was scared, it didn't take a genius to figure it out. The part of him that was controlled by his ego wanted to just move on. It was obvious Grace would never be able to deal with him as is, he told himself that if she didn't love him completely; the good parts and the bad, than screw her, even he deserved better. But his heart; the part that loved Grace completely understood why she was scared; hell even he sometimes scared himself with the stupid stuff he did.
He didn't know if he could change though. Part of him had always wanted to be responsible; it had just always lost out to the naturally fulfilling instinct of pissing off his parents. He'd done more than his fare share of that in the name of teenage angst. But really he was almost twenty and it was time to grow up. "But what does that mean?" He wasn't even sure himself. "I really miss Grace, this is the kind of thing I would have talked to her about." Eli murmured.
"Did she go somewhere?" Tiffany asked. "Holy Crap" Eli yelled, "I didn't know you were there" he remarked in a calmer voice. "How long have you been standing there?" "Long enough to see you crying and to hear you say you missed talking to Grace" Tiffany replied. Eli hadn't even realized he was crying, it been so long since he done so.
"Is there something that I can do to help you Eli, I'm a pretty good listener"
"No, never mind. Just some sad memories"
"I know what's going on"
"What?"
"I may be a blond, but an idiot could see how you feel about Grace"
"Whatever"
"Pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about, I don't care. But I'm going to give you advice anyway"
"'Bosses' wife, do whatever makes you happy"
"When you love someone you both have to give a little bit, you both have to be supportive. Nobody's perfect and if you really love someone you're willing to compromise, to "meet in the middle". Look at Jake and I, it's been hard and long but we're getting there. I had to learn that Jake was never going to change completely, but he came a long way from where he was. Jake will never cheat on me, he's learned to be a better person but he's always going to be a flirt; a ladies man so to speak, and that's part of the reason I fell in love with him in the first place."
"Gee"
"I can see the things in you that would push Grace away"
"I'm sorry Tiffany, I know your trying to help, but Grace didn't even give me a chance. She ran scared."
"Did you ever tell her you were trying to change? Eli, I know you have a way of trying to justify your mistakes. Admit to her that you've screwed up, that you want to change not only for her, but for yourself as well. Meet her half-way, don't forget she loves you, it's not you she's running from, it's the pain you tend to inflict on those close to you."
"When did you get to be so smart?"
"When I fell in love"
"I hope I'm strong enough to"
"You will be"
"Thank you Tiffany, and one other thing."
"What"
"Can we keep this our little secret?"
"For Now, but if you start dating; and I'll know. Trust me. Don't expect me to lie to my husband and the rest of the family"
"We are family, aren't we?"