Title: (Series) The Secrets That We Keep- Fall Apart, Then Start Again

Author: Tamara

Summary: It's far from the end for him.

Rating: PG-13/R (?)

Pairings: Grace/Tad, mentions of Grace/Eli

Disclaimer: Roses are red, Violets are blue, I don't own a damn thing, so you can't sue.

Distribution: Anywhere else: Want. Ask. Take.

Feedback: My darlings you all are so wonderful, so please keep it up. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your kind words. They are my motivation.

Storylines: 6 months after Part II. Once again, no set point of view.

The Secrets That We Keep- Fall Apart, Then Start Again

"Cause it's all in my head.

I think about it over and over again

And I can't keep picturing you with him

And it hurts so bad

Cause it's all in my head

I think about it over and over again

I replay it over and over again

And I can't take it…"

- "Over and Over Again"- Nelly and Tim McGraw

She stood there, in the center of the room, smiling, laughing, and giggling, completely oblivious to the fact that his attention was completely drawn to her. Just like it always was. And yet she never seemed to notice. Or she just didn't give a damn. Which one, he couldn't decide. But he continued to observe her.

She looked simply radiant in her full length, white Matron of Honor dress. Her shoulders and collarbones exposed due to the fact it was a strapless dress. It made him remember all the nights he kissed her there, placing light kisses along her collarbones, and gently nipping at the area between her neck and shoulders. He silently cursed himself and leaned up against the post that supported the white tent where the reception and wedding were being held.

Her hair, which had grown longer, had been swept up into a French twist, with just a few small wisps that were slightly curled, framing her luscious face. Her eye makeup had been kept simple, while her lips were painted a glossy red. They were almost the color they had been after he would kiss her intensely and passionately.

"Just fucking stop, Eli. You're going to drive yourself mad," he told himself. Truth be told, he already felt like he had lost it. Actually, he did lose it…the day she ended it. He had spent the whole night crying and wallowing in self-pity, thinking of a million and one ways to alleviate his pain. Nothing had genuinely appealed to him, so he locked himself in his room and avoided anyone for as long as he could.

Eli let out a deep sigh, and he glanced back over at her and he felt his body tense up when he saw the dark-haired young man walk up and brush her lips with his. He clenched one fist while he consumed the entire flute of champagne he had been holding in one long gulp.

Tad wrapped his arms around her waist, and held her close while he was engrossing in conversation with Jessie, Grace, and Judy, and much to Eli's dismay all three women were completely charmed by him. Eli could feel his jealousy start to swell inside and decided he couldn't watch anymore. He had seen enough the last 6 months.

"Look at them. I don't think I've ever seen Grace so happy," Jake spoke as he stood next to Eli before Eli could excuse himself from the celebration. " She deserves it."

"Yeah, she does" Eli agreed, but with a slight edge to his voice. He only hoped Jake wouldn't notice.

"He's a good kid too," Jake added.

"Aren't they all," Eli added sullenly. Jake looked at him with an odd expression on his face. Clearly something wasn't right, and he wanted to know what it was, especially if it concerned Grace and her boyfriend.

"What was that supposed to mean?" Jake questioned.

"That I want to kill the little shit," Eli thought to himself. Hmm, maybe he could use this conversation to his advantage.

"Oh, nothing really. I mean all guys are the same, ya know? Sure the kid seems great, but he just seems….too great. Too perfect of a guy. And there is no such thing as a perfect guy. Believe me, I know," Eli explained, hoping maybe there was a shred of doubt about the kid in Jake's mind.

"Do you know something that I don't?" Jake asked as he grabbed two more glasses of champagne, handing one to Eli.

Eli smiled slightly. "No. Guess I'm just doing the protective older brother thing. Grace is special, and I just don't want her to get hurt."

Jake smiled at his answer. It was nice to know someone else was looking out for his little girl.

"You're right, Grace is special. And no one is good enough for her. No one ever will be. But if she's happy than I guess I can live with that. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find my bride," Jake said as he excused himself to find Tiffany.

"Congratulations Jake, and give Tiffany my love."

"Will Do. See you later, Eli." Jake left leaving Eli alone to endear himself in his own private misery once more. He surveyed the scene before him, suddenly felt out of place. Couples were dancing to lame love songs, and people mingling socially with one another, and here he stood by himself. He decided it was time to snap himself out of it, and at least try and enjoy what was supposed to be a joyous occasion.

He walked up to the group of women and "the boyfriend," as he liked to call Tad. The first person he looked at was Grace, and he could see her becoming slightly unnerved causing herself to pull closer to her boyfriend. Eli only flashed his smile in response knowing how much Grace loved his smile. She had told him so herself.

"Good evening ladies," he said cheerfully. 'Tad," he acknowledged with a less than thrilled tone to his voice.

"Eli," he acknowledged, his tone matching Eli's when he addressed him.

Just then Lily came up to Jessie, Zoey, Judy, and Grace and informed them they were needed for wedding pictures.

"I'll be right back," Grace said to Tad, pulling him close and kissing him passionately for a few seconds. "Don't you go anywhere," she commanded him, her voice a low whisper almost seductive.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Tad replied with a grin on his face. Grace stole a quick glance at Eli, and walked away. She couldn't help but notice the look on Eli's face she walked away. It looked like one of annoyance. But she knew him better than that. It was a look of anger, and Grace silently prayed that both men would behave themselves.

"Why don't you run along and go play. You're not needed here," Eli said to Tad once Grace was out of sight.

Tad chuckled and smirked. "Nah that's okay. Grace wants me here," he shot back and held back a laugh as he saw Eli's face sour. Surely Eli didn't think that Tad knew, but Grace had told him. It had taken a lot out of her, but she trusted him enough to tell him everything. And he was the only other person besides Eli and Grace that had known what went on. She had been afraid because of what he might think of her if he knew, but to her surprise Tad had reassured her that he didn't think any differently of her. Surely he had been shocked, but he had gotten over it. He had fallen in love with Grace and that's all that mattered. Eli was her past and he was her future.

Eli composed himself, not catching on to what exactly it was that Tad was trying to say. But he had been caught off guard by Tad's nonchalant response to his comment.

"Look kid let's get one thing straight. I don't like you. You're not good enough for her," Eli said as all his anger and jealousy came spewing out, and his tone was clearly threatening.

Tad decided by instead of making a comeback he would bait Eli for all he could.

"Why not? Why don't you like me? Why am I not good enough for her?"

Eli wanted to shout at that it was because Tad wasn't him, but Eli knew he wasn't good enough for her either. But instead he simply answered:

"I just don't like you. And no one is good enough for her."

"You mean no one who isn't you," Tad shot back, now standing face to face with the other man, yet trying to maintain a certain distance so onlookers wouldn't realize the intense conversation that had indulged themselves on.

"What the hell did you just say?" Eli asked incredulous. There was no way this kid had figured it out. Damn him if he had. Eli surely hoped no one else saw what was evident. But he and Grace had been avoiding each other like the plague. Well she had anyways. They barely even spoke two words to each other in the last few months. Then something hit him. No, there was no way in hell that had happened.

Eli's eyes widened in realization.

"That's right Eli. I know. I know all about you two. Didn't think she would tell me, did you? Well she did. Now you listen to me. I know how bad you hurt her, about all the other girls, the promises you made her and never kept. I'll be damned if you even try and get close to her again. I won't let you hurt her in any way, shape, or form. I love her and she loves me. You can't have her. She doesn't want you," Tad said as he temper was starting to take over. He knew Eli wanted her back. He knew Eli loved her, even is she hadn't known it. He could see it in Eli's eyes every time he looked at Grace, and the thought that she had loved Eli killed him. Even is she claimed she didn't anymore, Tad knew subconsciously it was still there.

"Nice try kid. Not bad. But who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?" Eli mocked. He was amused at the kid, but he had to give the kid credit. He had guts. But something in the way Tad had spoken had suggested that Tad doubted how much Grace was really over him. Perhaps it wasn't as lost a cause as he had previously thought.

"Just stay away from her," Tad commanded not bothering to Eli's question.

"That's up to Grace," Eli replied, now realizing he was standing to close to Tad. To others it probably looked as if the two were ready to face off.

"If you hurt her, I'll fucking kill you," Eli warned and he backed away as he saw Grace in the distance. With those parting words, Eli left Tad to silently scold Eli as he stood by himself.

a

a

a

a

An hour and a half later, Eli found himself dancing with his little sister in the middle of the makeshift dance floor. Jesse, always full of life, was trying to lighten his clearly dark mood by telling lame jokes and reminiscing about childhood memories. Eli managed to crack a small, but forced smile. He heard Jessie sigh deeply, and wished that she didn't know him as well as she did.

"What's going on with you?" Jessie inquired.

Eli said nothing and threw a quick glance in the opposite direction. But Jessie followed the direction of his lingering eyes. She should have known.

"What did you expect, Eli? For her to wait around forever for you to tell her you loved here?" Jessie asked her brother in an almost reprimanding tone.

"Jess, I, uh…God I don't fucking know. I guess I did expect for her to wait until I was ready," he finally admitted to himself.

"That's pretty selfish, Eli. Grace and I might not be the best of friend's, but I do know that you can't make her wait an eternity for you to tell her you love her. You hurt her, and I mean really hurt her. And it wasn't just holding back those three words, but it was the girls, the partying, everything. Why did it take you so damn long?"

"Because I was scared. I mean what if I didn't really love her? What if I just thought I loved her, and thought she loved me? What if it wasn't real? I couldn't go through that again," Eli told his younger sister with the best explanation he could. One answer. Fear. Fear of loving her and then the fear of that ending and being hurt again. He couldn't go down that road again.

"Grace isn't Carla. She is nothing liker her, and she never will be," Jessie reminded her brother. She looked back to the corner where Grace and Tad had occupied and were kissing intensely. A part of her wanted to reprimand Grace for flaunting her relationship with Tad in front of Eli. But at the same time her brother partially deserved it. Maybe not months for months on end, but at least know he understood how she felt when she learned of him all the other girls.

"What tangled webs we weave," she murmured. Her brother now stood beside her and was watching intently. She wondered if he liked to torture himself.

"What was that?" Eli asked not able to understand her inaudible words as he finally tore himself away from the sight before him.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it." Jessie studied her brother and for the first time she really saw how tormented he was over Grace. But there was something in his eyes that was cautioning her. He looked far away in thought.

"Eli what are you thinking?"

"Just about how I fucked up, how much I love her, how much I want to kill the smug little asshole."

"First of all, it's good that you see that you messed up. Everybody makes mistakes. I know you love her, and you have for a long while. Even before Carla," Jessie informed her brother who met her with a raised eyebrow as if to question her last statement. "Please Eli, I'm not blind. You've liked her from day one, and you know it. Look Eli, you're my brother and I love you. Yes you messed up, but I know you. Deep down you really are a good guy, you just have a hard time showing it sometimes. And when you love someone you love them unconditionally. You deserve someone like Grace."

"No I don't, Jess."

"Yes you do. She's good for you. And someday, sooner or later, you'll have her back. I'm not saying it will be easy, but you will. I know it. You two were meant to be together."

"I'm not so sure about that," he said sadly voicing his doubts. He honestly didn't believe she would ever forgive him.

"If it was meant to be, it'll come back around. Until then, Eli, please for the sake of yourself, stop dwelling on the past and look to your future. Get yourself and your life together. I don't know how much more I can take of this brooding Eli."

Eli knew Jessie was right. If he wanted Grace back he had to change. He had to show her he changed, or he would never stand a chance. However the was still one small little obstacle that would stand in his way no matter how much he changed.

Eli looked back and saw Grace and Tad leaving hand in hand. "You're right, Jess. And I think I know just were I need to start…"

Jessie knew instantly what that meant. "I didn't mean break them up Eli. As much as I hate to say it, she really does care about Tad and she is happy. If you do anything to ruin that she'll hate you and you'll lose her forever."

Eli smiled and kissed Jessie's forehead. "No worries kid. I didn't say I was going to break them up. Thanks for the talk. Love you," he said as he walked away.

And Jessie just stood there wondering what the hell her brother meant and was planning. Whatever it was wasn't going to turn out pretty. And she had a feeling it would be her brother who was going to lose.

FIN

Ok guys, it wasn't the best, but I needed a part to set up more of the story. I apologize for my sporadic and lack of updates, but a lot has been going on, and I'm hardly home anymore. Sorry this one was kind of boring. But thanks for reading.

Oh, and on a side note the guy who plays "Tad" is James Lafferty who plays "Nathan Scott" on One Tree Hill.