A/N: Hmmm, let's do a little searching in the dictionary today before getting on with the story.
Impatience (noun)
The act of being impatient.
Impatient (adjective)
1. a: not patient: restless or short of temper especially under irritation, delay, or opposition
b: intolerant impatient of delay
2 prompted or marked by impatience an impatient reply
3 eagerly desirous: anxious impatient to get home
Virtue (noun)
1 a: conformity to a standard of right
b. a particular moral excellence
2. plural: an order of angels—see Celestial Hierarchy
3. a beneficial quality or power of a thing
4. manly strength or courage: valor
5. a commendable quality or trait: merit
6. a capacity to act: potency
7. chastity especial in a woman
So as we can see, I take back my previous comment about impatience being a virtue, because it clearly is not. : ) Now on with the story! Until next time—PCGirl.
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Chris walked in and put his coat on the hanger next to the door and smiled, "Hey," he said coming over and standing above the young girl who was studying intensely at the book in front of her. He patted her head and she smiled up at him, her green eyes of her mother's dancing, "Big test tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I was trying to do what you did in med school," replied Leslie.
"What's that—cramming at the last minute?"
"No—speed paraphrasing."
"Oh yeah—hey, did anyone call?"
"Yeah, I wasn't in though—it's on the answering machine," she said as she tried to play down who it was. "Today was Orientation for the new interns, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, I met an old friend at lunch—his son is an intern now. The boy's mom was actually in my intern class—and a very good friend."
"Which was like a hundred years ago, right?" she laughed.
"I swear you get this nagging sarcasm from Jack—and I have no clue where he got it from. Let me go check the message, if it's not the hospital I'll make dinner and then I'll quiz you."
"Thanks Dad."
"Dad--," he softly laughed and shook his head in disbelief as he went to the bedroom and hit the play button on the answering machine.
"Hey Chris and Leslie—it's Elizabeth. Listen, I'm going to be in town in next month and wanted to stop by for a visit. Hope everything is going well with you, it's beautiful in Los Angeles--."
Chris hit the erase button before the end of the message and walked back in, "Trying to make me think it wasn't anyone you knew, hmm?"
"Sorry Dad, but you know how I feel about her. She comes for a visit, gets you, Alison, Rafe, Lucy—everyone in a tizzy and then leaves as quickly and elaborately as she came in."
Chris laughed, "Yeah, she does do that—doesn't she? Well, it won't be until next month and school will be out then—do you want me to get you a flight to go visit Jack while she's here?"
Leslie's green eyes got huge and filled with anger, "I can't believe you'd ask me that—you know--."
"I know, sorry I asked," he said as he sat down and grabbed her hand. "Anyways, Jack's going to be here soon for a visit anyways—you will just have to suffer through dealing with Elizabeth like all the rest of us. And besides, last time I remember in the end you could do a very good Elizabeth impression."
"I learned from the best," she said finally breaking into a big smile and he pulled her in, kissing her on the head.
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"Ok, love you too," said Alison as she hung up the phone. "Kids—come down here," she yelled.
"Yeah Mom?" said Eddie as he came barreling down the stairs and hopping off the last one—almost identical to what his father did at times—usually when he was in a good mood about something.
"You sure are cheerful," she smiled.
"Really? Yeah, I guess so?" he said scratching the back of his neck as Alison laughed—another trademark of his father.
"What's going on?" she said as she crossed her arms—she felt like she was talking to Rafe right now—not her sixteen year old son.
"I think Lizzie has a crush," he grinned.
"Aww, really?" said Alison as her eyes got big. "What makes you think that?"
"Well, I'm not sure—it's just this morning Tara and Kate left for pizza—and I offered to take Lizzie over to the Trinity for lunch before going to the Gym for work. She said no—said she had someone to meet, but she wasn't going to see Leslie—I could tell it was a guy," he said shaking his head as the door opened and in walked Lizzie. "Hey squirt," he smiled.
"Hey," she beamed back—her hazel eyes filled with excitement.
"So what did you do today?"
"Nothing major—just went to the library to look for a book."
"Really?" he said as she walked past him and up to her and Kate's room.
"The library—jeez, wasn't that a line that Grandma Elizabeth used when SHE was a kid to go see guys? And anyways—it's Sunday, the library isn't open today" he laughed out loud as Rafe came in, "Hey Dad," he smiled.
"Hey, what's so funny?"
"Absolutely nothing," Alison said glaring at Eddie. "Don't you have something to do, Eddie?"
"Not really," he grinned as he got a look from his mom to keep quiet. "Fine, I'll be upstairs—call me down when dinner is ready," he said as he took the steps two at a time—ready to find out what was going on with Lizzie.
"Want to explain?" said Rafe as he now stood in front of Alison.
"It's nothing bad Rafe—just our little girl may have her first case of puppy love."
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Ian walked into the barely furnished apartment and grabbed the cordless phone he had plugged in this morning and went for the couch. He pulled out the card and dialed the number waiting for it to ring, "Hey, did I wake you?"
"Just a little," she yawned. "What time is it?"
"Uhm—1:30 am your time isn't it? I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to call earlier," he said putting the phone between his ear and shoulder as he grabbed a piece of paper to write a note on.
"It's ok, I figured you were chatting it up with your old buddies."
"Yeah, they've been playing round robin with me on something that happened ten years ago. I hope I get to the end of the story before I'm set to come back home."
"Well, I'm sure Claire will enjoy whatever it is—you know how she drooled over those fantasies you told her about vampires and creatures that seek justice," laughed Maeve as she gave another yawn.
"How is did our girl's football game go today?" he asked, trying to hide the laughter at the fact she still called them fantasies.
"She got three goals," she smiled. "We're missing you a lot—it seems weird without you here, Thornhart."
"I'll be home soon enough," he smiled, "I just have to get my boy settled here first."
"I understand. How was his first day?"
"Well, he was late, but luckily Chris gave him some slack," he laughed. "He's out with the other interns now, celebrating surviving the first day, I suppose, so I have no idea how the rest of the day went. Give Claire my love tomorrow morning, ok?"
"I will. Goodnight Ian."
"Goodnight, Maeve," he smiled as he hung up the phone with a smile on his face.
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Livvie held the bouquet of roses tight in her hand as she stood above the small marker and kneeled down, "Happy Birthday, my little girl," she said as she ran her fingers over the etching, Amelia Rachel Morley—Born: April 8, 2008, Died April 12, 2008.
It wasn't dusk yet, but she knew the sun was setting behind her as she just sat there and told Amelia what was going on in the lives lately and then a shadow was cast behind her and onto the stone, she turned to see Caleb standing there, "Hi," she said softly.
"I knew I'd find you here," he said kneeling down and kissing her head.
"Well, it's her birthday—she would have been twelve today. I was wondering what she would look like now, and if she'd be spending all her time with Lizzie and Leslie—it should be Lizzie, Leslie, and Amelia—friends for life, you know? She didn't get enough time with us," she said as she began to tear up.
"I'm sure she would be," he said as he got silent and they sat there for a bit in silence—trying to imagine what their little girl might be like today.