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Title: Strong Enough Chapter 13
Author: Nicki C.
Email: Nimacu@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I don't own Once and Again or the characters. Steve and KJ are my own inventions
Summery: When they get to Chicago
Feedback: Of Course I want it.
A/N* I had a really hard time writing Steve's character, so I hope it's ok.
Eli and Grace stood outside of an apartment building near Michigan Ave in Chicago. "Eli are you sure this is the place, it looks a little expensive?" Grace questioned him. "Yes, this is the address that Steve gave me. I think his parents pay the rent" Eli responded. "Well I wish we had parents that generous, anyway we might as well go inside." Grace responded. They started heading into the building, halfway up the steps Grace turned to Eli quickly and asked, "Did you call first?" Eli chuckled at her question.
"Trust me Grace, Steve isn't the kind of person that needs to be called first"
"Are you sure? I don't want to impose."
"I'm positive, Steve we'll be more than happy to see us"
"While we're on the subject, why haven't I ever heard of Steve? You mention Coop and Chris and the others, but you've never mentioned Steve."
"Steve's not the kind of guy you tell your step-sister about"
"But I'm your girlfriend"
"Yes and now you know about Steve"
"No I don't"
While the two were on the stairs arguing a young man with light brown spiked hair and pale skin approached him. "Eli? Is that you? What in the hell are you doing in this crazy town?" Grace stood there as the strange man slapped Eli on the back and brought him in for one of those "manly" hugs. "We came to visit you man," Eli told him. "The hell you did" The man responded. "You must need a place to stay, well your welcome here; at least for a few days". The man who was obviously the mysterious Steve turned to Grace; "And who might you be?" Grace began to answer him when Eli cut her off "This is my girlfriend Grace, and yes we do need a place to stay for a few days. But can we discuss the rest of this in some place that's not a stairway." After this question the three of them headed up to the apartment. On the way up they began discussing Eli and Grace "little problem". "Well to boil it down it's the classic parents don't approve thing, and since we're both adults and it was hell at home we decided to leave." Eli informed Steve as they were walking into the flat. Grace following silently.
Grace looked around the crowed flat, there was furniture everywhere and there were people on the furniture sleeping and sitting, some were watching TV, some were talking. "What's going on in here?" Eli asked. "We had a little party last night." Steve answered with a gleam in his eye. "But it's ten o'clock at night" Grace blurted out. "Yeah, that party rocked" came a reply from a twenty-something man who was spread across an easy chair. The three of them looked over at the man who'd just spoken. "KJ, is that you. Man, it's been forever!" Eli exclaimed. KJ laughed and said "Yeah I think the last time I saw you, you were praying to the porcelain goddess after that killer party at Nina's". At this remark Eli stopped smiling and turned to Steve, "Dude do you have anywhere we can put our stuff and get some sleep?" Steve seemed to debate for a moment then spoke "Yeah, follow me."
Eli and Grace followed him into a room that was remarkably empty considering what the rest of the apartment looked like. "This is my room but I was just heading out for a couple of hours and I'll crash on the sofa when I get back, if I get back tonight. If your hungry there might be food in the fridge, I'm not really sure. There's definitely beer in there though, you're free to take some but if you grab the last one you have to buy more. The bathroom's through that door" Steve leaned out of the room and pointed to the door next to the bedroom. "I think that's pretty much all you need to know, oh yeah there's clean sheets somewhere. I'd change them if I were you." At this remark Grace cringed, but listened as Steve continued. "Well Eli, I've got to be going, enjoy your stay and if I don't see you again, Good Luck!" Steve finally stopped talking as he headed out of the room.
"Wow, he talks a lot"
"Which is good for me 'cause I don't"
"Well this place is definitely interesting"
"Uh huh"
…………………………….
Meanwhile….
Lily and Rick were sitting at the kitchen table holding hands both with tears in their eyes.
"I don't want to fight with you anymore, I love you Rick"
"I don't want to fight either" Rick answered
"And we both agree on one thing at least" Lily gave a weak smile
"Yes, that their relationship is completely inappropriate. On top of all the other things wrong with it. In less then a month they're going to have a baby sister together"
"So, what do we do now, forbidding them from ever seeing each other again is pretty much not going to work, considering they live in the same house."
"I don't know, maybe Eli can move in with Karen, or he's old enough to get his own apartment, he makes decent money at Booklovers." Rick looked heartworn as he suggested Eli leaving.
"Grace is going to have to understand that he's off limits, and the same for Eli. If they want to be allowed to even see each other they're going to have to agree to end it permanently." Lily who had started the sentence with a determined face looked forlorn when she finished the word permanently. "How can we make that kind of decision for them, how can we force them. Can't they see how wrong this is?" Tears started forming in Lily's eyes.
After Lily finished talking the two sat at the table in silence until they noticed a Zoe silently slipping down the staircase.
"Mom" Zoe looked scared
"Yes Honey"
"Grace isn't in her room and Eli's car is gone"