Here and Now

Author: Sparkling-Diva

Rating: PG-13 (possibly more later)

Genre: Drama/Romance

Feedback: Yes! Please! But be nice!

Summary: Vincent Gray, now 33, is at a depressing stage of his life. When he meets a young girl, his life will change forever.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the show Judging Amy whatsoever and in no way am I affiliated with it.

Author's Note: And some more drama…

Chapter 56

Laura stood by the side her son's grave with a rose in her hand. In a shock like state she just looked down with tears rolling down her cheeks. Ever since the small service that the Gray family had done in honor of the child began she hadn't spoken a word to no one. Now it was done. Her child was six feet under and far away from where she could possibly reach him.

At least he's not in pain, she would tell herself but at times that wouldn't work. Instead, she would ask herself why this happened. Maybe she wasn't a good enough mother. Maybe she really was too young. Maybe, well, she was running out of options.

So silently she waited for her answer while her so-called "new family" mourned with her. She appreciated their support but felt too weak to express how she felt.

She almost jumped when she felt a small touch of an arm wrapping next to her.

She looked up and saw Vincent was there.

He really was her true friend through this ordeal.

He also had made such a huge sacrifice when deciding to take in consideration that he was the child's father so that the child wouldn't be remembered with hatred but with a good name. He even was willing to help her raise it.

How could all of this have happened? If you would've asked her what her life would be months ago she wouldn't have an answer but now that the time had came she did and she knew she had to make the most of it.

She felt so sorry for Vincent. He had talked to her before about not liking to be portrayed as a hero but in truth she was hers. When the incident occurred, he was there for her and encouraging her. The only other people who really had been so kind to her in her life were her mother and Maxine. If Vincent only knew what had happened in her past, she wasn't sure what he would think of her. She was almost to scared to know.

"Hey," Vincent said, "You feeling okay."

"I could be better," she said, "But I guess I'm still here for a reason."

"You've got a whole life ahead of you."

"I know. It's just sometimes I tend to think about my future too much. Then I ignore everything that comes in on my path and nothing turns right."

"I've seen you before. You were at an all-time low. You can get back up again."

"Can I Vincent? Really, can I?" she said in a more sarcastic tone that she had planned.

Vincent just gently rubbed her arm and said, "You can. I believe in you no matter what has happened or ever has happened and I'm sure that your son would want you to be okay and live strong."

"You're right," Laura said holding back her tears. "But, it still hurts. It hurts so much."

Vincent gently kissed her forehead and said, "It'll be okay. I'll be here to help you."

"Thank you for everything," Laura choked out.

"That's what friends are for," Vincent offered as an explanation.

"Vincent, do you mind giving me a moment," she said.

"Sure," he said with a weak smile walking towards where the rest of his family was.

Laura bent down to the ground and gently placed a rose on the grave.

"I'll miss you," she began. Her mind was too filled up with words that she found it almost impossible to know what to say at times. "I know that you're not in pain now and that's all that counts. I just wish that I wasn't…I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm too scared to be alone. I know that I'm really not but I just needed someone so close to me part of my own family, you know." Laura then started to break down in tears. She then looked up to read his name, "You would've had a good life here." She assured. "There's so many that didn't even know you but still cared for you. That says a lot compared to what I used to have. I promise you I'll get through this but there will never will be a day when I won't forget about you. You'll always be on my mind. Rest on peace"

She then stood about and turned around to see Vincent there looking down in some sort of prayer.

"Vincent?" she asked.

He looked up and said, "It's also funny how at these moments the only thing that seems to comfort someone is prayer."

Laura just smiled knowing how not-so religious he was.

He placed a rose on the child's grave and he then extended his hand and she took it and nearly swore that there was a small spark. She wasn't sure whether he noticed it but after he just leaned close to her and they both walked back to the car together.