"Dad- please!" Grace looked up at her father's face, deep in thought, as he studied her wide, pleading eyes.

Jake ran a hand through his thinning hair, remembering Lily's words when she'd called him the night before; explaining the 'situation' in thorough detail.

She'd kill him if he allowed Grace to leave his sight tonight, knowing full well where she was heading.

"No Grace, I promised you're mother" Jake said.

Grace closed her eyes for a moment, holding back the frustrated tears- "Dad, you don't even know the whole situation-" Grace began, but Jake shook his head "I know more than you think" he said, and walked into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water.

Grace stood still for a moment, trying to imagine what her mother had told him; and how much of it was true and how much was completely blown out of proportion.

Grace sighed deeply, realizing the odds were against her; she swivelled the bar stool and looked out at the restaurant.

Dimly lit with small fairy lights, the tables and chairs were stacked, and there was a serenity in the atmosphere as the smell of bread sticks lingered.

Jake reappeared with a glass of water in his hand, and walked back over to the cash register, and began examining the books again.

"What did she tell you?" Grace asked, turning back around to look at her father.

Jake glanced up at his daughter for a moment "enough to know that Eli isn't the right guy for you-" Grace opened her mouth in protest, but Jake continued "- and she didn't even need to explain to me the problems that dating a step sibling could arouse!" Jake finished, and brought the glass of water to his mouth.

Grace shook her head in disbelief 'my family want me to be miserable forever' Grace thought to herself.

"Dad, you don't know-" Grace paused for a moment, controlling her raging temper "- I love him, and all you and mum should consider is how happy he makes me" Grace said, and Jake lifted his head.

"Honey, this is so complicated! How did you get yourself into this? -" Jake said, more to himself than his daughter "-I guarantee you, Eli will move out, you wont see him for a little while- and before you know it all feelings you had towards him will be gone, and he'll simply be you're step brother again" Jake said, though he knew the words pricked at Grace's heart, and he hated hurting his little princess- even he could see how completely wrong this 'relationship' was!

JAKE When Lily told me, I was angry at first. Thinking this little drug addict, screwed up son of Rick's would take advantage of my baby!

But now, I'm focussing all my attention on helping Rick and Lily separate the two—it's best for all concerned! Grace will see that in time.

GRACE he will always look at me and see his 'little princess'. He'll always think that he's right and I'm wrong. That I can't make big decisions for myself, and that I'll always need to hold his hand.

I don't think he'll ever see me as a woman, not even when I'm married and have kids of my own. In his eye I'm still the baby girl he used to cradle in his arms…..

Grace grinded her teeth together; what was the point of wasting her breath when her mother had already brain washed her father into seeing things from her point of view?

"Fine, believe what you want-" Grace said, jumping down from the stool "- I'm going home" she swiped her coat which was hanging over another bar stool, and punched her arms through the sleeves.

She began walking briskly toward the door "-I don't think so!" Jake said, walking out from behind the bar "- you can wait here another 20 minutes until I'm done, and then you are coming home with me!" he said, putting a hand on her shoulder and rearing her away from the door.

"You have GOT to be kidding me? You think I'm going to run away and have a secret lovers rendezvous with Eli?" Grace said sarcastically, shrugging his hand off her shoulder "- I don't not need you to baby-sit me 24/7 ALL week!" she said coldly, turning to look him sternly in the eye.

"Grace! This will just be a lot easier if you behave yourself! Ok?" Jake replied, and walked back around the bar, returning to the books as Grace stiffly sat back on the barstool.

GRACE Come to think of it- neither of my parents really KNOW me. Maybe they don't want to see the woman I'm turning into, or maybe they both want to keep this image in their heads of a sweet little five-year-old running around the back yard in a fairy costume!


Eli wiped his sweaty brow with the back of his hand; he' been packing up his junk all day, and was completely exhausted!

He peeled off his grey t-shirt, which dripped with sweat, and rummaged through an open cardboard box, pulling out a short sleeved green shirt, which he pulled on over his head.

He glanced down at his watch; 8:15.

He'd heard Jake's car pull up outside the house at 3:30, and listened as he knocked briskly on the door.

Rick and Lily had greeted him, talking for a few minutes while Grace packed the last of her things.

Once Eli had heard the soft thud of Grace, as she walked down the stairs, he'd had to use all his will power to restrain himself from emerging from his room and going to see her; hold her in his arms, kiss her passionately, whisper his undying love in her ear.

He waited impatiently to hear the door slam shut, and the car pull our of the drive way; but the four of them stood in the doorway talking, Eli could only just hear the soft murmur of their voices.

And as a few minutes went past, he found himself standing by his doorway, his hand on the door knob, about to twist it open; when he finally hear the door close, and a few moments later the car pull out.

Eli looked around his room; the posters had been taken down from the walls, his desk and closet cleaned out- only his bed and a few clothes he'd wear over next few days remained unpacked.

Eli breathed in deeply, stretching his arms above his head.

Unexpectedly, almost as though someone had invaded his thoughts; an image of Grace's angelic face, illuminated by soft moonlight flashed in his mind.

He remembered the soft creamy features of her face, as she lay encased in his arms- he had declared his love for her, not knowing that she was peacefully sleeping, and heard nothing of what he'd said.

His heart began to pound; and he felt as though it was bleeding, as he remembered the touch of her supple skin beneath his fingers, her moist sweet lips, the way her hair fell down her brow.

Her rich chocolate brown eyes that danced as she spoke to him.

Eli felt like doubling over in pain, as his body and heart yearned for her.

And then he realized, the shirt he was wearing was the same one he'd worn on the night Rick and Lily had gone out, and he and Grace had baby-sat.

Eli pulled the shirt off hastily, chucking it to the ground and retrieving the sweat stained grey one from the floor- pulling it over his head.

He stared at the mangled green shirt that lay by his feet, and slowly bent down to pick it up.

He held it to his face, breathing it in greedily; he smelt her; it was the scent of lavender (her favourite perfume) sweet cherry lip gloss (she always carried one with her) and something else he couldn't describe. The faint scent of her creamy skin, which, he thought, smelt a little like honey (the moisturiser she used).

He tentatively pulled the shirt away from his face, throwing it to the floor again.

ELI you ever get the feeling like the universe wants you to remember? And fate or destiny puts these tempting little reminders in you're path just to make life a hell of a lot harder for you?

Eli turned and headed for the door, his stomach growling with hunger; he pushed the thought of Grace and the green shirt, which embodied her scent, out of his mind.

ELI Stupid universe!