Crazzyrussingal- Thanks for the kind words. Now let's see this chapter and the next are definitely Parker based. And she pops up again a little later. And as for Thomas Don't worry he only gets screen time in one chapter. But he's around for four total, including when he gets killed.

LJP- Actully Alley and aren't looking for each other. But yeah Alley is at one whit her mom, and Will's at one with his Dad. But later you'll see that each of the twins are in tune with both of their parents. As for Alley, Angelo will find her. But that is in the next chapter. And as for Cliffies I think that's like the only one in this whole story. It's hard to leave a cliffe when everyone knows how things are going to turn out. But that's alright 'cause in the next story there are cliffies galore.

Pretender Fanatic- Ha! my readers are risking getting in trouble so that they can read my work. Thanks for reviewing, the fact that you could have gotten in trouble makes the review worth even more.


CHAPTER 39

LOVE'S BEGINNINGS


February 8, 1999

8:14pm

Blue Cove Delaware

Home of Miss Parker

"So what's his name?" Sam questioned his sister.

"I don't know what your talking about." Parker replied.

"I want to know the name of the man that my sister has become smitten with," Sam told her.

"I'm not smitten with him," Parker told Sam.

"But there is a him?" Sam grinned.

"He's just a guy I met at the store the other day. He invited me to watch the meteor shower with him the other night and we talked. I'm going to get him to do some work on the house. Fix the water damage on the east wall in the house."

"Once again I'm going to ask you what's his name?"

"Thomas, Thomas Michael Gates. He owns his own business in which he restores old houses. He used to work on Wall Street. His parents died when he was younger and he's the only child," Parker answered.

"You seem to know a lot about him," Sam commented.

"I told you Sam we talked." Parker replied as she got up and placed her plate in the sink.

"You like him," Sam told her. "I believe my big sis has a potential boyfriend."

"God Sam what are you ten?" Parker scoffed.

"Some days," Sam grinned. "So when I'm I going to meet this Gates fellow?"

"You can meet him when he comes to look at the house." Parker told him.

"Good."


February 10, 1999

9:09am

Blue Cove Delaware

Home of Miss Parker

Sam was in Parker's kitchen brewing a cup of coffee for the two of them and Thomas who was supposed to arrive and place an estimate on how much to work on Parker's house would cost.

The door bell ranged and Parker went to answer it. Sam stood in the doorway of the kitchen to get a good look at Thomas.

"Good morning," Thomas said good-naturedly as he entered the house

"Morning," Parker said in return, Sam noticed that she was smiling. "Thomas, this is Sam my brother," Parker said nodding in Sam's direction. "Sammy, this is Thomas." Thomas and Sam shook hands.

"Pleasure," Sam said as he shook the other man's hand.

"Same here," Thomas replied. "He's your twin?" Thomas asked Parker.

"No Sammy is my baby brother," Parker replied. "He's adopted more or less."

"My folks died when I was a boy. Parker's Mom took me in, raised me as her own son," Sam elaborated. "And just for the record I'm only six months younger than her." Parker grinned at Sam. "Well I'd love to stay but I need to get to work. By the way Thomas, if Parker doesn't keep you too busy I was wondering if you feel like taking on another project. I'm thinking of putting on an addition to my house."

"Let me check my schedule, and I'll see what I can do. Here's where you can reach me," Thomas said giving Sam his card.

"Yeah thanks. Park I'll see you in a bit," Sam said and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Don't let them run you ragged Sammy," Parker called out to the sweeper.

Sam snorted. "They don't know any other way." Sam replied leaving.

"The two of you appear to be close," Thomas commented.

"He's my brother," Was all Parker had to say.

"Well then let's get a look at this water damage, then." Thomas said.


February 13, 1999

2:54pm

Blue Cove Delaware

Home of Samuel Gray

Sam got up to answer the door. He was shocked to find Thomas standing there. "Thomas," Sam said surprised.

"Sam, I'm sorry to bother you but I kind of need your advice. It's about your sister," Thomas said.

"Come on in," Sam told the carpenter. "Can I get you something to drink?" Sam asked closing the door. Thomas shook his head. "So what's your question?"

"I don't know what Parker has told you about the work I've been doing on her house. But the she wanted for me to replace the wall that contained water damage. As I was doing so I discovered that their was a room behind the wall." Thomas said. Sam ran a hand though his hair and sighed.

"You found my Mom's old drawing room," Sam told Thomas. "Parker had it walled up shortly after her Dad gave her the house. That was the first major fight between the two of us. I begged her not to seal up that room it use to be our mother's refuge, you see. But by that time Parker had begun to believe her father's lies. Anyway she walled it up. I didn't talk to her for almost two weeks after that.

"So let me guess. You found the room, and told Parker about it. She told you to cover it up but you aren't sure if you should or not."

"Something like that," Thomas replied. "When she saw it she said she wanted the wall to be repaired by the time she got back."

"Look there's something you need to know about Parker. She's a strong woman, always has been. But there are certain things. Basically things that involve our Mom that she just can't deal with. So it's easier for her to run away from them -or in this instance to cover them up- than to deal with it.

"As for what you should do. Well personally I think you should find someway to keep the room open. I have a lot of fond memories of that room. I'd like to one day have more. You care about my sister, I can tell. What ever this relationship is that the two of you are boarding on, you have to know that you can't push her. Parker does things her way in her own way, and in her own time." Sam told Thomas.

"She's a do-er," Thomas said.

"Exactly. So my friend it's up to you to do what you think it right. Just remember don't push her. She's tough but not as tough as she let's on." Sam said escorting Thomas to the door.

"Thanks for the advice Sam. And as soon as I'm done with Parker's house I'll stop by and take a look at the work you want me to do."

"Thanks Thomas. And take care."

"You too," Thomas replied and left.


February 14, 1999

5:47pm

Blue Cove Delaware

Home of Samuel Gray

Sam groaned at the sound of the door bell. He had just started drifting off to sleep when someone decided that they should pay him a visit.

"I'm coming. I'm coming," Sam mumbled as the bell rung for the second time. He opened the door to find Parker standing on his front steeps.

"What are you doing off of work so early?" Sam asked.

"Hello to you too Samuel," Parker said entering Sam's house.

"What's up?" Sam asked

"I wanted to say thank you," Parker replied.

"For what?"

"I know that Tommy talked to you yesterday. You gave him advice on what to do with Momma's work room." Parker told Sam.

"Yeah well, you know how I feel about Mom's room," Sam said.

"I should have never walled it up. Seams to be a habit with me. Wall over everything I can't deal with."

"You said it not me," Sam murmured.

"Do you want me to hit you?" Parker threatened.

"So can I see the room?" Sam asked.

"Why do you think I came over?"


February 20, 1999

10:12am

Blue Cove Delaware

Home of Samuel Gray

"Kill me now," Parker mumbled as she laid on the couch in her office, a cold compress over her eyes. Sam laughed out right. "This is not funny Samuel," Parker told the sweeper.

"You're right it's hilarious," Sam laughed. Parker threw the compress at him, which only made Sam laugh harder.

"Keep it up and I'll make you come," She threatened.

"I can't I have to work tonight," Sam said as he attempted to stop laughing.

"This is going to be a disaster. Thomas is going to have to met the rest of my family. Daddy's probably going to hate him. Lyle, well I don't give a damn about Lyle I just hope he's civil. And Bridgette is going to be sucking on one of those damn lollipops, and probably were something that is completely indecent. Thomas will be horrified, thus ruining the best relationship I've ever had."

"Mor, calm down," Sam said getting up form his seat. "Everything will be fine. Look I'll even help. But I'm serious about me not coming. I can't. I would if I could, but I don't like leaving my charges with Willie. Leave it to me to get the caterer. I'll pull out the good china, you just worry about what to ware okay?"

"What time do you have to be at work? I can move the dinner up," Parker suggested.

"Thomas will be there with you. I promise it won't be so bad. Besides that dinner is with your other family not me. I don't get along with any of them."

"One you are my family. Two I don't get along with them either," Parker protested, trying to get Sam to come to dinner.

"You get along fine with your Dad, Mor. Now look, I'm going to go get the caterer, find the china, and dig up Bridgette's medical records like you asked earlier. Okay?"

"Okay," Parker replied.

"Good," Sam said and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll se you in a bit," Sam said over his shoulder as her left her office.


"So how'd it go?" Sam asked Parker over the phone later that night.

"The plus side no one died." Parker replied.

"That's always good to hear." Sam said. "But..."

"But, it was extremely uncomfortable at best. Oh I forgot the best part. The wedding is this Saturday. Sam I don't think I can keep doing this. And to top it all off the doctor that said Bridgette is infertile does not exist."

"How'd Thomas take your family?" Sam asked he did not feel like getting into Brigette's medical records at the time.

"Not as bad as I thought. He said something later after the party and I think he may be right."

"What did he say?" Sam asked.

"He said maybe it's time I start making a new family," Parker whispered.

"He is right Mor. It's long past time, for both of us really. We've been living in the past far to long. Do you think you have a shot with him, starting a family of your own?"

"I don't know Sammy. Hell I've barely know him a month." Parker answered. "But I think I'd like to try."

"Then try Mor, one of us deserves some happiness in our lives. Hell by now I thought I would have been an uncle."

"Only a monkey's uncle Sammy," Parker replied.

"And that's exactly what your kids would be Mor," Sam said.


Reviews are wonderful.


A.N. #1 Okay gang I have a question for you. Thus far I've more or less been including the major stuff -that I can remember anyway- that has happened on tP and included it in my story. But I'm thinking that when it comes to the two movies I won't really talk about them that much and start to focus more so on Will, Alley and the Black Files.

So the question is, should I spend a few chapters on the movies, or focus more so on what was going on with the kids at the time?

A.N. #2 Oh and just a little update on the next -or should I say last- story in this trilogy. I'm about 24 chapters into. So expect the first chapter of that up as soon as the last chapter of this story is posted. And expect a few new characters. Like 10.