Holds Me Together

Rating: T-M Just in case

Disclaimer: At this point do I really need to write more then 'disclaimer' for you to know that I own only the new unheard of characters?

Reviews: Undyingslayer – Thanks for checking back in, good to see I'm still progressing in the "rock" category and not the "suck" category! ) Sam – Now that's dedication! Dead tired and you still reviewed! Impressive! I agree on the shirt deal. I'm sorry but did anyone else pick up that her name was Missy McMyles…say it out loud, it's a funny name! Everybody needs a JBs! I plead the 5th on the Ryan issue. Guess that means you just have to keep reading? On The Glynis Factor as I like to call it, I like to spice things up, so I figured using her might be a good way too. I thought her tattoo was appropriate…I mean come on! An atom! What would you do if you saw someone with a tattoed atom sticking out of the top of their jeans? I also plead the 5th on any possible break ups/new pairings, if any. That's for the dead tired review, it's a beautiful thing! Audrey – Thank you! I hoped everyone thought the tattoo was funny! P.S. number 1, loved your update for anarchy, it rocked! Number 2, I feel the need to tell you every time I see your name in the review box I think of Audrey Hepburn and then I think of Breakfast At Tiffany's and then I think "It'll take you exactly 4 seconds to cross from here to that door…I'll give you 2." And if anyone's never seen that movie then they didn't get that but anyway, just a fun little tidbit! Tiffany – Hey, I will advertise for you any day, so long as you don't pull the plug on the story! ) Loved your update! As I mentioned previously I totally plead the 5th on any possible break ups/new pairings! P.S. where's your road trip to? Tell me about it in your next review, dude! Kool-Wolf – What up hater? ) You've been gone, eh? Where too? P.S. What if I hate you too? Huh? What are you gonna do then punk! (Good to see you back, ha!) KJFlygirl87 – Hey! I love that song too…I was planning to use it as soon as I wrote the last half of the chapter before, lol. I thought people would like the new and improved but still the same Glynis, think I did well? Sorry for the grammar mistakes, it's hard to pick up mistakes when you're reading your own work sometimes, and I suck so. I was hoping the peanuts and the art gallery thing weren't too over the top. Thank you!

A/N Phew! That was a lot again! So exciting to hear from everyone! I LOVE YOU GUYS! Okay. Ahem. Sorry for the piss poor proofreading as always. Sorry! Read on with yo bad self, now!

Chapter 5 – Baby There Ain't Nothing We Can't Do

Grace was vaguely aware that it was October and not July or August as it felt like outside. The sun had just finished completely setting, so the darkness hadn't quite encompassed the beach she was on yet. It was somewhere in the 70s temperature wise, but cool and breezy still. Grace looked around her. No one was in sight on the beach and when she looked towards the houses not a single light was on anywhere. She hugged herself with her arms as she walked a little ways to where the water lapped at her feet.

As she stood on the shore taking in the view around her, Grace felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. What was she doing here? The last thing she remembered was walking back to the dorm from the movie theater and falling asleep while She, Luke and Missy all studied different subjects, sprawled out on the floor with junk food and coffee. The loud crashing sound of splashing broke Grace from her trance as laughing came along with it. Squinting, she saw a figure out maybe waist deep in the water, falling into waves, laughing and splashing.

"Luke?" She called out, taking a few steps closer despite the fact that her jeans were now soaked halfway up her shins. The further out that she stepped, the bigger the goose bumps on her cool skin became, rising above the surface. Her heart pounded a little harder. The figure stopped and looked at her, grinning broadly.

"Grace! Hey! Grace, come on! It's great out here! Come on!" Luke called back to her before diving backwards into a wave. Grace was confused. Luke hated the ocean. She waded out towards him, slowly.

When she reached him, he stopped diving and smiled at her, just standing close to her, not talking. Grace looked at him, confused, hugging her arms about herself now as she shivered, her lips shaking. The hair on her neck and arms was standing straight up. Something wasn't right here.

"What are we doing out here?" She asked him. Luke just kept grinning. She looked at him more closely. His eyes weren't the right color. Grace rubbed her eyes and looked again. Luke's hair was different too. His head was almost completely shaved. And his smile seemed insincere now. It faded as she watched him, her brain feeling foggy and heavy. A cold and almost sinister look over came his face.

"Luke?" Grace asked quietly. She shook her head with her eyes closed, feeling like she was hallucinating. When she opened her eyes, Luke wasn't standing in front of her. Ryan Hunter was.

Her eyes widened into saucers and she made a move to back away but it was too late. By the time her feet had unfrozen, Hunter's hands were clasped around her neck. The next thing Grace felt was the rush of water as he thrust down, knocking her over and submerging her into the ocean as a wave hurtled against them. Screaming out of shock as she went under, water rushed inside of her mouth and throat as well as her nose, and she struggled to push it out. Grace kicked and flung her arms wildly, hitting Ryan and trying to tug his hands away from her neck but they had a firm grasp. He pulled her above the water and she gasped, trying to flop away from him like a fish out of water.

"I didn't get you the first time, but I won't let you get away this time." He sneered as she gasped and coughed out water. He dipped her under again and she continued to fight. Soon her chest hurt from holding the gulp of air she'd taken in and it expelled in the form of bubbles as another wave passed. She cried out as he pulled her above the surface again only to plunge her back down into the darkness. Everything in Grace screamed for her to fight to get away. And then he pulled her up again. She sputtered, gasping and coughing, choking.

"Why-," She forced out, sputtering still. Ryan laughed.

"Why?" He laughed heartily. "Why? You want to know why?" He screamed at her, enraged. Grace nodded, still trying to swing at him, "Well, you can't always get what you want." He sneered again and thrust her back underwater as she continued to kick and flail.

"Hey mom…" Joan said quietly, clearing her throat. She didn't know what time in the morning it was, but it was early. Helen was asleep in the chair next to Joan's bed. Adam had gone home last night at Joan's request. She would have sent her mother with him, but Adam had stayed until Joan fell asleep, shortly before Helene arrived. Helen insisted, as Joan did, that Adam go home. Reluctantly he had. Joan reached up and absently rubbed her eye as Helen came to and sat up straight, slowly remembering what had happened.

"I told you I was all right…" Joan said when Helen looked at her. "You didn't have to fly out here."

Helen stood up and leaned over Joan, hugging her tightly. "You know that I was not going to stay home after what Adam called and told me." She said. Joan closed her eyes and let her mother hug her. In all honesty she was relieved to have her mom there, despite the guilt she felt that her mother had to fly out, so late at night and suffer through jet lag for two days just because Joan had to go and eat a bite of her donut. Helen sat back, tiredly.

"I'm sorry you had to fly out here." Joan averted her eyes. Helen waved her hand.

"It's all right Joan." She said. Then she eyed Joan suspiciously. "How did you let this happen? You know what happens when you ingest anything peanut related."

"I know…believe me I know…" Joan could think of 6 times since they'd been out at restaurants in the area and she'd wanted an oriental dish but had to deny herself the pleasure due to a peanut sauce on the dish, or something of the like. She shrugged and explained the story of how Brandon's roommate had offered her coffee and some food at the coffee shop in exchange for giving him an employee discount on his books and how she'd ordered the donut and he'd retrieved it. She'd never seen the sign reading "All of our fried foods are cooked in peanut oil," in red letters.

"You don't like donuts." Helen told her. Joan shrugged.

"I was up for trying new things?" She explained weakly. Helen sighed, resting her chin in her hand and shaking her head at her daughter.

"I hope you've learned your lesson?" Helen asked. Joan nodded vigorously.

"Oh, God yes." She said, almost wincing as she realized she'd yet again taken God's name in vain. She wondered if she could ask God next time God showed up for a permanent absolution in regards to the taking the Lord's name in vain bit. "So," Joan changed the subject. "Did you bring me pictures of my nephew or what?" Joan had been dying to ask this since she'd opened her eyes and saw her mother sleeping there. A huge smile broke across Helen's face and she reached down into the duffle bag that was next to the chair and pulled out a small photo album.

"I put them in here on the plane ride to keep myself busy." She handed it over to Joan who eagerly snatched it out of her mother's hands and flipped it open. Promptly, Joan's face caved and her eyes almost welled.

"Awwww…" She erupted emotionally, covering her mouth at the sheer site of the little baby. There were pictures of Kevin and Lily with Caleb, pictures of Will and Caleb, Helen and Caleb, along with some of Kevin and Lily's friends and Caleb. Some of the pictures were just of Caleb. These were Joan's favorites. "Look at his little fingers! And his nose!" She gushed. Helen laughed at her, understanding now what Kevin had witnessed when Helen had first walked in to see Lily holding her grandchild. "Hey, don't laugh at me! This is all I get until Christmas break…" Joan warned, laughing at herself.

"Grace? Hey, wake up." Missy jumped from her bunk and landed next to Grace's bunk. She leaned over and took Grace's shoulder in her hand. "Grace, wake up!" She repeated. Grace's face was covered in tears and she sounded like she was gagging as she murmured and almost whimpered. Missy shook her harder. Grace sat up hastily, her eyes bursting open, wide and dilated, heaving for air. Missy kept a hold of Grace's shoulders, despite the fact that Grace had almost swung at her. Grace's hairline was matted in sweat. Her face was cold and clammy from sweat and tears and the collar of her shirt had a ring of sweat on it. She looked around wildly, unable to figure out how she'd gotten to the dorm room. Missy sat down on the edge of the bed, facing Grace.

"Hey, Grace, it's all right. You were just having a nightmare," Missy explained as Grace's face turned to her and her eyes focused as she tried to get a grasp on what Missy was saying to her. She reached up and angrily wiped at her face to get it dry. She covered her face with both of her hands and took a deep breath. Missy, Grace noted, was very much like Joan and even Mrs. Girardi when trying to comfort someone. Missy ran her hand up and down Grace's shoulder. "Must've been a pretty realistic one, hey?"

Grace could only muster a nod as she let her arms flop down on her knees, which were now crossed Indian style under her. Missy nodded. "I've had some of those before." She grinned. "Mine's usually about Dex, my brother that's in the rodeo. He gets trampled by a bull only it's not a real bull, it's a mechanical bull and after it tramples him, it comes after me. But it only happens if I eat pickles before bed." Missy explained this absently, looking off into space for a moment. "Anyway. Want to talk about yours?"

Grace shook her head quickly. She looked around and cleared her throat. "Where's Luke?" she asked, looking for the clock. It wasn't time for class yet.

"Oh! He went to pick up some breakfast." Missy smiled. "He's a really nice guy," she continued. "You've got a good catch on that one."

Grace couldn't help the little inkling of a smile that crossed her face at the mention of Luke. Missy was still watching her, concerned. "I'm okay." Grace said. "It was just a dream." Grace sounded like she wanted to convince herself of this more than anyone else.

"Okay." Missy nodded and got off Grace's bed. "Since you're up now, do you mind if I put the news on? I didn't want to turn anything on that would wake you up earlier." She said sweetly.

"Go for it," Grace said, astounded that someone who barely knew her would be so considerate. "And don't worry about it in the future, I can sleep through the TV turning on." She assured. Missy smiled sheepishly. She turned on the TV to CNBC.

"Looking at California now we go to Cherrie Lind as our local correspondent. Cherrie thanks for joining us." The man on the screen said.

"Thanks for having me, Bob." Cherrie smiled brightly. Grace rolled her eyes.

"Can you bring us up to speed on the situation out there?" Bob replied, sounding just as fake as Cherrie.

"Sure, Bob. Police have in custody Richard Foster, the delivery man who walked into Euro Art Gallery yesterday, here in Palo Alto, California, with a shotgun, flare gun and some gasoline. He killed three, and set the building on fire. Other employees escaped with minor injuries and are being treated at the Stanford University Hospital." Cherrie explained.

"Turn that up." Grace said. Missy looked over at her. Grace was staring at the screen, bewildered. The color had drained out of her face. Missy promptly turned the volume up loudly.

"And am I right in hearing that Foster claims 'God' told him to do this?" Bob asked. Grace's eyes widened further, if that were possible.

"Well, not exactly Bob. Foster claims that over the past two weeks he's received 8 letters with no return address, addressed to Foster signed," Cherrie looked down at her notepad. "Bless you my dearest child on your mission, love God."

"Do we have any leads as to where these letters have come from, Cherrie?" Bob asked. Missy looked at Grace, who had covered her mouth with her hand in shock. Missy noticed Grace's eyes misting over.

"No specifics yet Bob. I am told that the police are hot on the trail of the letters, whose postmark has led them to the East coast in search of the culprit, though they haven't told us any details of where specifically on the East coast they could be going." Cherrie explained on the split screen of the TV. Bob nodded and their conversation continued but Grace couldn't hear most of it. Because her mind was still fogged and heavy from her nightmare, it didn't click in Grace's head that she'd talked to Adam the night before. Of course, the fact that they didn't issue a time frame in the news report didn't help matters either. Grace felt paralyzed.

Missy was about to sit next to her again and ask what was wrong when Luke opened the unlocked door and walked in carrying takeout containers from JB's.

"Good morning." He smiled as he set the containers and the coffee down. Then he noticed Missy's expression and turned to Grace. Grace was staring at the TV screen where they were showing footage of Richard Foster being arrested and of the burning art gallery. "What's wrong?" He crossed the room in two strides and sat next to Grace, putting his hand on her back. Grace pointed to the TV as they were doing a recap. Luke looked at the TV and listened.

Before the report finished Grace was searching for her cell phone. Luke grabbed her shoulder.

"Grace-,"

"Give me your phone." She demanded. Luke didn't move to reach for his phone. Instead he took her by her upper arms.

"Grace." He said sternly compared to his normal tone. "Adam called yesterday…remember? He's at the hospital with Joan. Even if you call his cell phone, he won't answer because you can't have a cell phone on in a hospital." He reasoned with her. Grace exhaled, her shoulders slumping in relief as she realized what he was telling her.

"You're not having a good start to your day, Grace." Missy said. Luke looked at her to see what she meant. "I woke her up from this wicked nightmare she was having, like fifteen minutes ago." She explained. "And then I just turned the news on and after the report you walked in, you know the rest."

Luke nodded and turned back to Grace, who was sitting there with her face in her hands. Something wasn't right. She couldn't put her finger on it but something just wasn't right. Her head felt like it was going to explode as she leaned forward and took a few deep breaths. Luke rested his hand on her back.

"Hey, it's all right. Everybody's okay." He assured her. Grace nodded, mostly to appease Luke. "Look, JB sent over something special for you even though Izzy said it was a horrible thing to give someone for breakfast." He grinned, holding a white Styrofoam container towards Grace. He opened it with a smile and held out a plastic fork knowingly. Grace saw the container's contents and yanked the fork form his hand, digging in.

By the time Luke's Advanced Chemistry class rolled around, his head was pounding and he wanted to crawl back into bed and sleep for the rest of the day. He slumped onto his stool, glad that this was his last class. He dreaded this class though he excelled at it. He was the only freshman in the class, having passed out of other chemistry classes prior to attending the school. Most of the students in the class were seniors except for three juniors who had well earned a spot there. Mostly all of the students in the class felt Luke did not deserve to be in their presence this early in the game, and so had not talked to him and only offered glares and stern looks when the teacher Dr. Ivy Farina, who had spent all of the end of August and nearly all September agreeing with her students that Luke should not yet be in her class, would throw questions at him and he would get them right quickly without stumbling for the answer.

"Mr. Girardi," Dr. Farina broke Luke out of his trance, startling him. Every head in the classroom turned towards him as Dr. Farina's British accented voice rang out through the class. Luke almost fell off his chair.

"Oh…I'm sorry Doctor." He cleared his throat and straightened himself to attention.

"Are we going to be able to trust you today, Mr. Girardi, since it is after all a lab day, that you are able to keep a steady mind so we do not sustain any injuries in my classroom?" The young teacher asked. Dr. Ivy Farina had completed school at the age of 15 and had gone to university and finished her doctorate in both Biological engineering and Chemical engineering by the time she was 22. Now, at the age of 31 she was the youngest professor at MIT with a double doctorate and the head of the Chemical engineering department. She was also one of the only female professors on campus to merit young male fantasies with her tanned skin, curvaceous body, and her long flowing blonde hair that had natural sandy highlights flowing through it. On most days she kept it down, styled out in such a way that all the girls in the class couldn't figure out how she always kept it so perfect like at any moment a director was to call 'action!' and she'd be off quoting her lines like a seasoned professional. On lab days, however she kept her hair up in a messy bun in order to keep the hair from cascading into any chemicals lest she mar herself for life because of a hairdo.

Now, even though Dr. Farina was a fan of Luke, she still eyed him suspiciously.

"Very well. Let's move on then shall we?" She asked. Luke nodded. "Very good. We're doing lab number 8 today…" Dr. Farina's words faded in Luke's ear and he prepared to do the lab, already prepared to do it, and needing no further instructions. He sighed.

Halfway through the lab, Dr. Farina waited until the class was occupied and walked over to Luke.

"I would like to see you after class." She said. Luke nodded, and she walked away.

Having study group sessions scheduled for Mondays, Grace didn't get to JB's until nearly 9:30pm. Thankfully she'd had an hour and a half wait between work and when the study group met. She'd managed to get everything that needed to be done on Tuesday, completed and was therefore more relaxed about going to JB's. She hadn't been able to eat all day however. Every time she'd started drifting into a daydream, she'd flashed back to her nightmare and gotten chills. As she entered the diner her stomach lurched and she felt almost queasy.

"Hey Grace!" Avery greeted her as she turned right and went for the empty booth. Grace offered Avery a smile.

"Hey Avi, how are you?" She asked as Avery bussed the booth next to Grace and Luke's booth. Grace set her bag and her jacket down in the booth, but stayed standing to talk to Avery.

"Oh you know, same old same old." Avery offered a chuckle. Grace nodded.

"Yeah, that tends to happen sometimes." Grace looked at her. She found Avery was staring at JB Jr., who'd just clocked out to go and finish his homework and was now heading out towards the front door.

"Goodnight ladies." He winked and left. JB Jr. was a very charming young man. His dark brown hair was like his father's and his piercing eyes could read almost anyone like a book. He had a half grin that let you know he was ten steps ahead of you at any given moment. He liked to give bear hugs and seemed to be empathic to the point that if you were having a bad day, you got a bear hug until you smiled or laughed. He had played soccer and baseball in high school and felt that athletes should always be in shape, and so he was toned and muscular but he had also believed that you should retain a neck, and so he was also still a slender man. He usually looked good in anything he wore, including greasy white t-shirts and aprons. Avery nearly swooned as he left. Grace chuckled at her and Avery blushed.

"It would be easier just to tell him, Av," She commented, sitting down in the booth. She hadn't seen Luke so she couldn't lean over the counter to greet him. She suspected he was in the back getting napkins or something to stock up.

"I can't," Avery blushed again, wiping the table clean.

"Why not?" Grace questioned. Avery shrugged.

"Girls can't just go up to people and be like 'I like you, let's go out,'" Avery said, rolling her eyes.

"Yes they can." Grace argued, giving Avery a strange look. Avery was not usually the kind of person to be timid like this. Avery shook her head.

"Okay, but I can't." Avery hoisted the heavy rubber bus bucket up and headed for the back. Grace shook her head and watched her go. As Avery reached the back kitchen, JB Jr. came back in.

"Back so soon, Junior?" Grace asked, raising an eyebrow. JB Jr. was always being called Junior. It was easier then addressing him and his father as JB Sr. and Jr. every time they were both working in the restaurant at one time.

"I forgot my books." He nodded. Grace knew could tell he was lying. And she knew why. She smiled. "What?" Junior asked.

"You know she's nuts about you," Grace said. She put her hands up in the air innocently. "That's all I'm gonna say…" she smiled as Junior grinned broadly and headed directly for Avery. Grace closed her eyes, rubbing the back of her neck.

"You didn't say hi to me,"

"OH!" Grace started, opening her eyes to see Luke sitting across from her. She put her hand over her heart and swatted at Luke's arm. "Don't do that to me!" She said, visibly startled.

"Sorry…" Luke bent his head down.

"What's up with you?" Grace eyed him suspiciously.

"Farina ripped me a new one after class today." He sighed, putting his head down on his forearms.

"About what?" Grace reached out and ran her hand through his hair in an effort to comfort him. He sighed.

"I didn't get much sleep last night. I zoned out in class. It was lab day." He frowned as he picked his head up.

"Well…I can see how she would sternly talk to you, not rip you a new one for that though," Grace reasoned. Luke nodded and shrugged. "Maybe you should relax and get some sleep tonight?" Luke nodded again to this.

"What was your nightmare about?" He changed the subject. Grace tensed up. Closing her eyes and inhaling. She recounted the dream to him calmly. Luke nodded as he listened, reaching out to put his hand over hers. After she finished telling the story she glanced at him and then stared at their hands. "He's never going to get near us again, Grace. I won't let him hurt you," Luke said to her. Grace nodded. Luke leaned over and kissed her. After a few more minutes of talking he heard Grace's stomach. "Let's get some food, okay?" Grace readily agreed to this.

"Hey," Joan said as Adam walked into her room with a flower pot full of daffodils. Joan smiled as he put it on the table next to her bed.

"Hey, Jane…" He leaned down and kissed her. "Where's your mom?" He asked, looking around the room.

"She went to call daddy, and Kevin and Lily." Joan nodded as Adam sat on the edge of the bed, facing her. He smiled.

"I saw the pictures she brought," He said to her. "She showed them to me when she showed up last night." He explained. Joan nodded.

"Mom said Kevin told her to inform us that, as a long term friend to the family and seeing as how we're always together, even if we aren't married yet, you are to be called Uncle Adam at all times for Caleb's sake." Joan smiled. Adam's smile grew.

"Really?" He asked hopefully. Joan nodded. Adam leaned in and kissed Joan. When he pulled away, his face became more serious. "I need to talk to you about something important." Adam glanced around the room. The woman that he worked with that had been in Joan's room had been discharged earlier that morning. Seeing that they were in private, he looked directly at her.

"What's wrong?" Joan asked.

"Have you been watching the news coverage?" Adam questioned. Joan nodded.

"Mom's freaked out. She said it was a miracle that they called you away because of me." Joan snorted, catching the humor in this. "My mom said it was a miracle that I almost died." She laughed. Adam saw the humor in this but the idea of Jane, his Jane, dying spooked him, Joan seemed to sense this. She put her hand on his forearm. "I'm sorry." She said to him. Adam shook his head.

"I would be dead by now if it wasn't for that." This idea freaked him out even more. Before Joan could comment, Adam spoke up again. "Were you told to do this?" He asked. Joan bit her lip. She didn't know what his reaction would be to this. Slowly she nodded.

"Well, not exactly." She coughed and cleared her throat. "I was told to go for coffee and a donut at my break." She said and then she explained about Brandon's roommate and told him the whole story, including the part about the woman that Adam worked with being in the bed next to Joan as God. Adam sat still, stunned. His eyes misted over.

"I shouldn't be here." He said slowly.

"Adam, no, you're supposed to be here. Why else would God have set the plan in motion to keep you here?" Joan replied. He shook his head.

"But I don't deserve it," He looked down, a few tears falling. "Not after what I did to you…"

"Adam…"

"No, Jane, it's true." Adam interrupted her. Joan looked at him. "You just want to keep pretending like it didn't happened and it was all in the past but it did happen and I don't understand how you could ever love me again…" Adam was shaking at this point. Joan sat up, taking Adam's face in her hands.

"Adam, I love you." She said, staring at him. "Don't you understand that by now? I have since the beginning. And you have too. I know you have. You always have." She smiled, her eyes spilling over as she told him this. "People make mistakes. Lots of mistakes. Some of them are big, some of them are tiny. But they're all mistakes. And when you love someone you accept them, even with their mistakes, Adam." She sniffled, searching his eyes. "I know you. And it was hard to trust you again, believe me, just like it was hard for you to trust me…but I do. I know you learned from your mistake, Adam." She said, wiping at his tears. "I want us to work together, like we have been. We're supposed to be building this love and fighting tooth and nail for it together, against the world. Don't you think we can do that? Don't you think, I don't know that there's no problem too big that we can't fix together? There's no mountain we can't climb or any of that metaphorical stuff? Don't we deserve a second shot at surviving for this? For our love? Isn't that the most important thing, Adam? That we love each other?"

Adam nodded. "I just…" He frowned still. "I love you, Jane. When you love someone, you don't do what I did."

"Mistakes, Adam." She shook her head. "They're in the past. They're only useless and a waste when we don't learn from them…and you learned from yours. All the tears we spent on each other Adam, have washed us up here on the shore and we have to pick up and move on. That's why I tell you that those things are in the past. If we don't look forward and we just keep looking backwards, we're never going to see where we're going and we'll crash…" She continued. Adam nodded slightly.

"I'm sorry…I just…thinking…and after yesterday…" He sighed. Joan pulled his face to hers and kissed him deeply before she hugged him tightly.

"I love you." She told him.

"I love you too, Jane." He replied, holding her back just as tightly.

"Hey, I came over here to put some crappy night time cartoons on Adult Swim on, and lay here with you so you could sleep, brain. Stop studying. You already know all of that," Grace ordered. Luke looked at her. She was lying on his bed, in her pajamas, curled under his blanket and still looking cold. Sweet Lou was passed out in his bunk up top, lightly snoring. Luke sighed. Grace lifted the blanket up and held her arms out. "And besides I'm cold, and I had a nightmare last night, get in here and make me feel better too," She tried again. Finally Luke gave in. He brought over his sweatshirt for her after he disrobed into his boxer briefs. Grace couldn't help watching him as he undressed and walked over to her. She smiled slightly and sat up to put the sweatshirt on, having been dumb enough only to leave a tank top and shorts as pajamas at his place. Luke climbed around her under the covers and laid back on his side so he was leaning against the wall for more support.

After she wiggled into the oversized MIT sweatshirt, she laid back, nestling herself back against his chest. Luke sighed, contentedly as they lay watching the TV across the room which was tuned to cartoon network for Adult Swim. Grace rested her head back against his chest and the pillow. Luke leaned in and kissed the back of her head. His arms were circled around her and she could feel his body pressed against her. She let her feet tangle in comfortably with his and her arms placed themselves along his as they came together at her stomach and she entwined her hands among his. She turned her head and kissed his cheek, just reaching it from their interlocking positions.

"Relax, brain…everything's gonna be all right," She assured him.

"Is that so?" Luke asked her as she turned back around, nuzzling into him again. He felt her nod her head. "How do you know?" He asked her. They were whispering so they didn't wake Sweet Lou as Family Guy played in the background.

"Because, goofball," she let her elbow hit his arm lightly. "I love you." Luke smiled to himself and tightened his arms around her. He was surprised and excited by Grace's new freedom with this phrase. Neither of them felt that it was being thrown back and forth too much at each other, but rather, they both chose to use it at a time when they felt the other needed to hear it the most. He sighed quietly and kissed the back of her head again, squeezing her hands in his.

"I know…I love you too." He told her.

"I know…" Grace smiled, feeling herself drifting off. She fought to stay awake and managed to until Luke's breathing regulated itself and she knew he was asleep. Feeling his breathing and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat so close sent Grace into a peaceful slumber soon afterwards.

A/N: Chapter title from "City of Love" by Martina McBride (one of my heroes!). Sorry for the grammar mistakes we all know I suck at proofreading! What else do I suck at in this chapter? Where do YOU think I should take this story? What improvements can be made, aside from my crappy grammar typos? P.S. – I'm thinking that this story is going to run somewhere between 15-20 chapters, which means a lot of long windedness from me and some good, bad, happy and sad moments to come! Stick with me here people! (P.S. – go read as many JoA fics as you can in two hours and review every single one of them because I said so!)