A/N: Hey, thank you all so kindly for your continued support of this story! I just wanted to address a review, submitted by Brian Brady. I read your bio, and I noted that you said you only review when it's warranted, and constructive. I get that, and major props. I need to get past the 'your story rocks!' thing. That said, I wanted to respond to two things you said. First of all, why didn't Greg call? Frankly, not everyone thinks sleeping with family members (former or otherwise) is such a harmless thing. I think they looked at each other and freaked, and it wedged a bridge between them, so that years later (when this story takes place) there would still be bitterness on Marcia's side (with a little guilt; after all, didn't she do the same thing that she's counseling January not to?) and a willingness not to want to see another person's viewpoint on that. Sorry I didn't express that better, but I'm working on it! And the whole Cindy/Cynthia thing- since I'm not really going to talk about her at school, we can assume that her classmates call her either one, and she's only insistent about being "Cynthia" to her family members. It happens, like in my family. Maybe, she's been called Cynthia all along by teachers and is just now starting to embrace that name. Whew! Guess I had a lot to say, after all. After that long intro, here's...
Part Five- Bobby
Running.
I was pounding the track, not hearing anything but the wind around me, the rapid pace of my heart, and my own harsh breaths. My thoughts were centered on the white finish line I could see in front of me, growing closer with every step I took. Five more steps, and I was across it, slowing but still jogging as I tried to slow my racing heart. I did almost another lap before my breaths were even again. I went over to my coach, who was frowning as he stared at his stopwatch.
"How was the time?" I asked him.
"Don't know. Stupid thing isn't working right." He flung the watch to the ground in disgust and looked up to add briefly, "Nice form though, kid. Keep it up and we might have a chance on Saturday."
I nodded and looked down, pretending to study my shoes so that Coach wouldn't see the broad grin that had crept across my face with his words. Coach was notorious for his insults, but not quick with his praise.
"Okay. Get going! Practice is over for the day!" He blew the whistle, signalling for everyone to hit the showers. Sighing with relief, I started for my car instead- I would rather shower at home.
"Hey Brady!"
I turned around. One of my classmates, Danny, was calling me. I trotted over to him.
"All of us are going out for a pizza, you wanna come?"
"I would," I said regretfully, "but I already told my dad that I'd be home like," I glanced at my watch, "now. Next time, okay?"
"Sure." Danny walked back over to where everyone else was gathered. I looked over there with a little pang of regret, but I had promised my dad that we could eat together at least one night this week, so I threw my stuff in my car and took off.
I arrived at my house ten minutes later, pulling in right behind my dad, who was just getting out of his car. "Hey," I greeted him, stepping out of my car and walking in the house.
"Hey, Bobby. Where's your backpack?"
"In the car. I'll grab it later. Right now, shower." I ran into my bedroom to grab some clean clothes, and started into the bathroom when my dad stopped me.
"I needed to ask you something. I'll be in my office when you get out of the shower."
I nodded slightly and stepped into the bathroom. As I let the water sluice down me, I thought about how much my life had changed. At my school, I wasn't known as one of six, or even one of three. Greg had went straight to college rather than settle here, and Peter had only lived here for a year. I was the sole Brady here, and I liked it.
I dried off and threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I went to my dad's office, knocking before I entered.
"Hey, Bob," Dad asked, rubbing a hand over his face tiredly, "how about we grab something out instead of cooking?"
"Whatever," I answered, then brightened up. "Hey, can I drive?"
My dad nodded, which I took as a bad sign. Either he was really tired, or he had bad news and was trying to soften me up. Deciding not to borrow trouble, I walked back to my car and got in, and watched as he climbed into the passenger side.
"Oh, and Bobby? Can you try not to give AJ Foyt a run for his money?"
"Ha ha," I said sarcastically but smiled. One good thing about living by myself with my dad was that I had his undivided attention, and we were much closer than we used to be.
We ended up at one of our favorite diners, and after we ordered, I turned to Dad. "What did you want to ask me?"
"Have you talked to Peter lately?"
I swung my head up from where I had been studying the tabletop. "Why? He's okay, isn't he?"
"Very. Apparently, he's dating Jan."
"Jan? As in, my former stepsister, Jan? Okay."
My dad looked at me curiously. "How do you feel about that?"
"It's his business, who he dates, isn't it? Oh, here comes the food." The waitress set the food down, and I attacked it with gusto.
I could tell that my dad wanted to say something more, but he didn't, so I just let it go. Our conversation was pretty vague until we got to the car. Then he burst out, "So you're really okay with this?"
"What? Peter and Jan? If it makes them happy, then sure." I turned down our street. "Why?"
"Even factoring their previous relationship-" he started to say, but I interrupted.
"Here's what I really think. Once, we were a family, right? And when we were a family, I would have said that it was wrong. But now, Jan's just a girl that Peter knows and feels comfortable about. Plus, they're about a thousand miles away from anyone who might know that they lived together for six years." I pulled into the driveway and shut off the engine. "And we didn't keep in touch or anything, so it's not like one minute, they were brother and sister, and the next day, they were... together."
"We were a family once." My dad stated flatly.
"But not anymore," I said and got out of the car. "And maybe it was for the best. But I don't think that should stand in the way of their happiness."
I went into the house and headed to my bedroom. I dug out an old piece of paper with a number hastily scribbled on it and dialed the number.
"Hello?"
"Cindy? Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me, Cynthia. Who is this?"
"Bobby. Um, Brady."
"I guessed that part," she said drily. "What do I owe this call to?"
"The big scandal we have brewing."
"About Peter and January?" I heard her snort. "Oh yeah, a scandal of Biblical proportions. I've heard nothing else since Marcia called here all panicked a couple of months back."
"And your take on the situation is?"
"Honestly? I could care less, except to be happy for January. She needed to be with someone who was capable of accepting of who she is now, as well as the person she used to be."
"That's deep," I said, surprised.
"Yeah, well, I watch Donahue."
I laughed. "We should talk more often."
"Definitely. Well, Mom's yelling something. I'd better go find out what."
"Okay then. Bye, um, Cynthia."
"Bye, Bobby." She hung up the phone and I dialed another number.
"Hello?"
"Peter, it's me."
"Bob? What are you... oh. Dad told you today, didn't he?"
"Yeah, but that's beside the point. When were you going to tell me?"
"I could tell you now," he offered.
"But it's not the same," I said sadly and then laughed. "Just wanted to see how you were doing, man. I'm calling Greg next."
"Why?"
"Just realizing how important family is."
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A/N: I'm not sure what year "Donahue" premiered. I'm sure it was in the seventies, but if not, oh well. I'm already working on the next, and last chapter. Thanks so much for your patience with me! I try to make an effort to get chapters out pretty regularly, but with a full workload, it gets hard. Enough of the pity party. Stay tuned for the finale!
