Champagne was flowing. Soft music was dwindling in the air. Fairy lights were twinkling. The sweet sound of laughter made for a warm atmosphere…. Jessie smiled as she looked out at her guests.

Her father and Aunt Susie were dancing, though Rick was having trouble getting his arms comfortably around her middle.

Lily and Judy were twirling one another on the dance floor….Sam Blue standing by, ready to sweep Judy off her feet.

Zoe was standing off to the side, arms crossed, wearing a big black leather jacket in an attempt to hide her god-awful dress that Lily wouldn't let her get changed out of, because she said she wanted photo's taken throughout the night.

Eli was standing beside Zoe, slowly sipping a drink, watching as Grace and Katie twirled around each other, laughing giddily.

After a moment, Katie noticed Jessie sitting down; she motioned towards her and Grace nodded- watching as Katie headed over to Jessie's table.

Grace walked off to the side, towards Zoe, tugging on her arm.

"Dance with me!" Grace pleaded.

Zoe waved her away, hugging herself tighter, "no" was all she murmured.

"Oh come on Zoe! Take off that biker jacket and come dance with me!…" Grace whined.

Zoe looked up to Eli, and then back to Grace; "dance with him…he looks like he's having a worse time than me!" Zoe motioned.

Eli cleared his throat, and shook his head, "err…I'm going to pass on that…" he mumbled, and bashfully walked away.

Grace watched him go, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear she turned slightly red.

"Zoe!" She said sternly, turning back to her sister. She tugged on Zoe's arm, hard, eventually pulling her onto the dance floor. For a moment, Zoe stood perfectly still, hugging herself passively, refusing to budge….but after Grace had danced around her a few times…she showed signs of rhythm.

"She turned into a gorgeous young woman…."

Eli almost jumped out of his skin when his Grandmother took a place beside him, where he stood off to the side of the floor, looking out.

He stood straight, cleared his throat and pretended to scan the floor; "who?" he asked dimly.

She rolled her eyes, and pointed wildly at Grace as she danced around Zoe.

Eli blushed, and pulled his grandma's hand back down, she laughed at his embarrassment.

"Don't you think?" she asked.

Eli sipped his drink and looked away, feigning disinterest; "I don't know…"

"Oh! Come on, E! Look at her…she is beautiful!" she scoffed, looking back to Grace, "….such a pretty face….who'd have guessed that shy, awkward teenager would blossom into such a beauty?…"

ELI I did

Eli murmured, "hmmm….I guess….I really can't comment!"

His grandmother looked to Eli for a moment, at his averted gaze, blushing cheeks….and then she looked to Grace, smiling a wide smile, her dark eyes dancing with delight, her wavy hair bouncing about her…..

Eli lifted his whisky to his lips again, but his grandmother stopped his hand before it could reach them; "you shouldn't be drinking something so vile…!" she said, sternly, snatching it from his hand. The drink splashed and some spilled.

Eli looked at her angrily, but she just stared back, calmly. "When was the last time you played?" she suddenly asked, and Eli was completely confused.

"What?" he asked, annoyed.

"Played you're music….on the guitar….when was the last time?" she asked again.

He reached for the drink, but she moved it away before his fingers could even touch the glass, he frowned; "a few years now….it was just a stupid hobby!" he replied.

"It would be nice if you were playing tonight….for you're sister!"

His frown deepened, "stop it!" he blurted, "I don't play anymore! You know that! …what's wrong with you?"

She tipped the drink upside down, the liquid splashing to the ground. Gone. Eli sighed angrily, and went to walk away, when she rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Your so sad these days…" she said, soothingly.

"What?" he asked, and tried to walk away again, but she wouldn't let him.

"…What happened to my grandson? The musician? ….all I see now is this sad businessman who hates his mediocre job and his mediocre life…and who needs a whisky in the morning and at night just to get him through the day!…"

Eli stared into her wrinkled face for a moment, her soft blue eyes looking out at him pitifully….looking at him as thought they could see right through him…..

He gave a slight shake of his head and pulled away, he headed inside….to get another whisky. His grandmother watched him go, sadly, she shook her head aswell.


"Was this wonderful?" Katie asked, whispering in Jessie's ear.

Jessie gave a small laugh, "Oh… I don't want it to end!".

Katie laughed aswell, tightened her grip around Jessie's waist, and spun her around; Jessie laughed. Her head light from the champagne.

"Well you know….it doesn't have to end…." Katie said, once Jessie had stopped laughing.

"Ahhh…what do you mean?" Jessie asked, and Katie pulled away slightly, to look her in the face.

"What would you do if I said we had tickets to Hawaii?" she smiled deviously.

"…I'd say we couldn't possibly afford that…I'd say you were sweet but crazy…." Jessie said, seriousness covering her face.

Katie smiled, "ok….so what would you say if I told you my grandparents bought them for a week away…hotel booked and everything!"

Jessie gave a slight shake of her head, about to say that they couldn't possibly accept them…when Katie cut in; "…they're non-refundable! So we have to go!"

Jessie stared into Katie's luscious brown eyes for a moment. Katie was afraid she might very well still refuse the tickets…she knew how committed Jessie was to the youth centre….she might not want to be away from work for a week…and then Jessie smiled.

"I'd say….when are we leaving?"

Both girls squealed, and twirled around the dance floor one last time.

JESSIE AND KATIE (twirling around in their wedding dresses, laughing)


"So….how did it feel to give you're little girl away?" Lily asked, coming up behind Rick who was sitting down. Exhausted from his dancing with Susie.

Lily bent down and kissed his cheek, she draped her arms over his shoulders, and he reached up and took hold of one of her delicate hands, kissing it tenderly.

"I feel…very old and lucky…" he replied, slowly.

Lily gave a small laugh, and bent down to kiss his cheek again. Rick tightened his grip on her hand, and looked out to Jessie and Katie as they danced closely.

RICK (looks into camera as though he's just had a realization, he looks surprised) …when you find someone that you want to spend the rest of you're life with…you should spend that life together without regret…..make every dream come true for one another….every dream….

"I love you…." He whispered.

Lily removed her arms from his shoulders, pulling up a chair, she sat next to him, "I love you more…." She replied.

Rick suddenly turned to her, wide-eyed, frantic looking- he took her hands in his, and stared into her face.

"No…I really love you!"

Lily laughed, a little awkwardly, "and I love you too Rick….are you ok?"

He shook his head, and then closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them again: "no no no! I love you! And I want to make you happy!"

"Rick…what is this about?"

"Its about me loving you and wanting to make you happy!'

"I am happy! You make me happy!"

"No! If you want another child….if that will make you happy…." He took a breath, and smiled, wildly, "….then lets adopt….lets have another child, Lily!"

Her eyes strained, they felt as though they were going to pop out- and then she exhaled, she didn't even realize she'd been holding her breath, "what?…well….is that what you want?"

"Yes!" he replied quickly, "god! Yes! That is what I want!"

She looked away for a moment, trying to control her breathing, "Rick…." She started.

"No! Lily….do you want another child?"

She nodded.

LIL more than anything!

RICK more than anything!

He leaned forward, and kissed her passionately on the lips. When he pulled away, he pressed his forehead against hers, raised a hand to her cheek, and brushed it softly, they both had tears in their eyes; "….then lets have another child…."

Lily broke into a croaky laugh, she gulped back tears of joy; "I love you!" she started to cry, and Rick kissed her again.


Grace walked into the kitchen. She opened the fridge door, and took out a bottle of water, when she heard a crash come from the living room.

She jumped in fright, and quickly ran into the room.

No lights were on, it was pitch black. But she could still make out a figure sitting on the couch….and when she heard the clanking of ice in a glass….she knew it was Eli.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, creeping forward.

He scoffed, "somebody burst my bubble…." He murmured.

"Sorry?" she replied, and he laughed.

"No….no….it wasn't you…." He said, and lifted the glass to his lips.

She crept forward again, and saw what the crash was. Eli's feet were propped up on the coffee table, they'd kicked off a picture frame of the family together, and it lay broken on the floor.

"Are you ok?" she asked, wandering around to the front of the couch, she looked at Eli, straining to see him in the dark.

"…Was I any good?" he asked, slowly.

Grace was silent for a moment, "at what?" she asked.

He gave a lazy smile, "….music…" was all he said.

Grace gave a small smile, and tucked a loose curl behind her ear; "yes…you were amazing…."

He nodded, and sipped his whisky again; "…. 'were' being the operative word there, right?"

Her smile disappeared, "well I don't know…why don't you pull the guitar out and strum a few notes…then I'll tell you if you've lost you're talent!"

He looked away, sipping his drink again, bitterly; "I don't play anymore…."

"Shame…." Grace murmured, and she headed back for the kitchen.

"Wait!" Eli called, "…where are you going? Stay!"

"You're drunk and miserable…I want to go back out there and celebrate….not stay here and listen to you wallow!" she mumbled over her shoulder, still walking towards the kitchen.

"I'm not drunk!" Eli called out, raising his glass; "…I'm just trying to prove a point!…."

Grace stopped walking, she was standing in the kitchen doorway, and she stopped. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, bit her bottom lip, and trudged back into the living room, hands on hips.

"To who?" she asked, breathlessly.

Eli sipped the last of his whisky, and leaned forward to place the empty glass back on the coffee table in front of him.

"…Everyone…" he said, leaning back, closing his eyes.

Grace creased her brow, and stood behind the couch, looking down at Eli; "what does that mean?" she asked.

Eli let out a hoarse laugh, and brought a hand to his face, rubbing his brow, he laughed; "….oh! It means….everyone…I am a man proving himself to everyone!"

Grace rolled her eyes and stared down at his face; "Eli….are you ok?" she asked, her voice softening.

He didn't open his eyes, but he let out another gruff laugh; "no" was all he said, in a happy sort of way.

Grace sighed, she hesitated before moving back around to the front of the couch and taking a seat beside him; she really wanted to get back to the party….but she couldn't leave him here…no doubt Rick or her mother would come in ….see Eli drunk….Grace didn't want that to happen.

"Eli? Maybe I should call you a cab….or you could go upstairs and lie down for a while….would you like that?" she asked, soothingly, resting a hand on his knee, trying to get him to open his eyes and look at her.

He shook his head slightly, "No…no….I'm happy sitting right here…with you" he murmured.

Grace bit her bottom lip; "maybe I should have another whisky?" Eli asked, and Grace patted his knee gently, "I think that's the last thing you need!" she replied.

Eli opened his eyes, and slowly turned his head to look at Grace; "….you look really sexy tonight…." He mumbled.

GRACE Great! A drunken come-on….

"Whoa there!" Grace said, removing her hand, "….don't even think about it!…." She warned.

Eli gave a stupid smile, and reached his own hand over to rest on Grace's knee, "what?" he asked.

Grace shook her head, desperate to take his mind off of his wandering, drunken thoughts; "what were you trying to prove?" she whispered, slowly moving his hand away as she spoke.

Eli laughed again, "….that I can go without a whisky for one night!"

Grace looked to the empty glass, and back to Eli, with a raised eyebrow.

He shrugged, "I got thirsty…." He muttered.

Grace gave a slow nod, "…maybe I should call you a cab…"

"She said I was sad…." Eli continued.

"What?" Grace asked, creasing her brow, trying to understand his ramblings.

"…Because I don't play my music anymore…" he scoffed, "…as if that was the be all and end all, for Christ sake!"

"Who said?…." Grace tried, but Eli cut her off.

"…Just another guy with a mediocre life and a mediocre job…that's what she said…."

"Who?" Grace tried again.

Eli gave a loud laugh, "my own grandmother!" he finally answered her, in hysterics.

Grace looked away, suddenly feeling embarrassed for Eli.

When his own laughter died down, he lost his lazy smile….it was replaced by a frown; "the thing is…I think she was right…"

"Oh no…Eli….I'm sure she was just…" Grace tried, but Eli waved her aside, and kept babbling.

"…I'm not happy….I never wanted the job that I have….It was just there…and it wasn't like I was a huge success in life…so I took it…the easy way out…"

Grace looked away from him, wishing he would stop talking….knowing that he would regret every word…but he wouldn't stop

"….I don't have anything in Philadelphia….not even a girlfriend…."

Eli leaned forward, reaching for the empty glass, and then realizing it was empty, he sat back again; "….I was supposed to be married by now….did you know that?"

She gave a faint nod; "….are you sure you don't want to go sleep up-stairs for a while?" she urged.

He shook his head wildly; "…I told you this before….but I'll tell you again…ok?"

Grace sighed; "really! Its ok….tell me another day!"

"She was a writer….a children's book writer….she had a mass of red curls….and amazing blue eyes…..she had beautiful eyes….she was funny, intelligent, witty…."

"Eli! Really…I should get back to the party…" Grace tried, desperately

Suddenly, Eli blurted; "I loved Isabelle…." And Grace became very quiet.

"…But I didn't love her….do you know what I mean?"

"I…I don't think I do…" Grace muttered.

"But I stayed with her…I wanted to leave….but I stayed, because I knew she loved me…."

Grace sat very still.

"…She was great….but she wasn't you….do you know what I mean?"

very…still…

"…. Not that I was still hung up on you….I just missed what we had…and I hated that I didn't have that with Isabelle…"

Grace cleared her throat.

"…And then she fell pregnant…"

GRACE (her face is looking into the camera, and she gasps slightly for air)

"….I didn't want the baby…I don't think I even really wanted her….but I still loved her….sort of…so I asked her to marry me…"

"Listen, Eli…maybe you should stop…" Grace found herself saying….pleading?

"And then one day I get a call…." Eli's voice became croaky, and he frowned so deeply, "…I went to the hospital, and she said that she'd lost the baby….just lost it…"

Grace's eyes were big as she looked at Eli. Praying that he wasn't about to say….

"…And I was glad…relieved…. I don't know if there is an appropriate word for how I felt…. Is there a word for when you feel relieved but saddened? I don't think there is?"

She let out a small gasp for air. She felt her eyes water slightly…and she suddenly wanted to leave Eli alone in this darkened room, just leave him.

"…And she looked at me and knew…she told me to get out….and I did…. "

He looked to Grace, his brow creased as he looked at her mortified face; she'd brought a hand to her mouth, her eyes were glazed with tears. And he didn't understand…what has he said to upset her?

"Grace…?" he asked, reaching his hand out to touch her arm.

She shoved him away.

"I…I'm going outside…" she murmured, standing, unsteadily.

"Grace…?" he tried again.

"I'm sorry that you told me all that, Eli" was all she whispered, as she wandered back out to the kitchen, and outside, back to the party, where everything was still warm and happy.

Eli just sat, in the darkness, not quite sure of if he'd really just spoken or not….he sat there for the longest time….until morning….when Lily wandered in and woke him.

"What happened?" he whispered groggily, opening an eye.

"…Have a nice night?" Lily asked.

"Mmmmm?"

"You spent the whole evening on the couch…" Lily explained. She was in her dressing gown, hair matted from a night's sleep.

Eli opened his other eye and blinked. Bits and pieces of last night came crashing down; "where's Grace?" he asked, struggling to sit up.

"Oh….she has to get home…" Lily said, helping Eli to prop himself up.

"The Motel?" he asked.

"Oh no honey, back to Wilmington…she's booked a flight for tonight….she has to get back there apparently….for her classes….or something about her room-mate?"

Eli's eyes widened, he blinked; "Wilmington?" he asked.

Lily nodded; "but not until tonight…so we can have one last family dinner together…."

"Wilmington?" Eli repeated again, and Lily laughed.

"I know! You two haven't had enough time together ….but you'll see her for Christmas break….wont that be a nice holiday?"

Eli blinked again.

ELI I knew this would happen….


AUTHORS NOTE

AHHHHHHHH! Life has been so crazy! I haven't updated in ages.

But you know…writing is very therapeutic for me. It's nice to just sit down and type for an hour or so….I haven't been able to update in ages…sorry!

But this is a long chapter….with a CLIFF HANGER! I know you guys like my cliff hangers (he he he)

I don't know when I can take a break to update again. But when I do…I will have a good chapter for you! …ideas are swimming already!