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: MDM79 – No problem on clearing it up. There's more flashbacks up ahead though. ) Yeah, Grace should've done that long again, but, hey better late then never? Aww…I love kids! How old does your nephew act? My cousin just had her second baby on the 5th, so forgive me if I gush at anytime… Jane and Adam – I'm glad you're back! Hey, a break from everyday life is big, dude, breaks up the monotony! Kool-Wolf – Dude! Hey, hey, hey, who said it was your idea? I hate you remember, why would I like your idea? Psssh! And hey, your sister loves your company apparently, enjoy it! My bro hates mine. I was thinking that even though Grace despises what her mother's done, deep down it's still her mother. She hasn't gotten to the 'I hate you' part in life just yet. Oh, and dude? I more than made up for it with a super long chapter, yo! Remember always PUNK, I hate you, yo! Audrey – Hey, thanks! I'm not positive how many more chapters. I'm thinking I'll make this maybe 15-20 chapters altogether. P.S. – Dude, me too! ) Sam – In a nutshell responding: I thought I might've made the flashbacks a bit long but I was happy with them. I could've made Grace fiercer but…well you'll see eventually. Yeah, I hate putting the fic on hold though. Some nasty stuff happened this week too that made this chapter take longer too. But the next one shouldn't be so long! Tiffany – And I said what about Breakfast at tiffany's, she said I, think I remember the film and, as I recall we both kinda liked it and I said well that's, the one thing we've got! Ahem, excuse me, sorry…I couldn't contain myself there. Hey! I'm not 'stealing' just uh, borrowing? Dude I totally got crap from that person via email! YAY next chapter! And P.S., Led Zeppelin said it best my friend…ramble on! Laura – Yes, you'll get a full report on what Sarah and the Rabbi thought of her actions! I'm sorry for your withdraw dude, but don't worry, I'll try to have more than one chapter for your return chica! Have fun in France-where French Fries and French Toast were NOT created by the way…how disappointing is that? Send me an e-mail about your trip! I will be sure to fill up my story with extra G/L for you! American studies and English, eh? Let me know if I can help! Hope your trip was good!
A/N Whoa, responding to my readers is getting almost as longwinded as my stories! I love it! I love you people! You make my day! P.S. Sorry if you don't review and you hate scrolling through my responses to get to the story, but I feel each review merits a response! Sorry for the proofreading as always. Sorry! Read on with yo bad self, now!

Chapter 7 – Thanksgiving Is a Special Night

"Hey! Yo! Wake up! Knock, knock!"

Joan sighed as she inhaled deeply, stretching at she woke up to the sound of someone's voice outside her door. Adam was squirming awake as well.

"Come on guys!" The knocking came again.

"Is that…Brandon?" Joan asked. She climbed out of bed, wrapping the blanket tightly around her as she did.

"Ah…Jane! It's cold!" Adam searched for something to cover himself up with. He found his boxers and then climbed down to grab an extra blanket from the couch, which he wrapped himself in and then flopped down onto the couch, still mostly asleep. Joan opened the door and then hugged the blanket to herself again.

"Brandon? What are you doing here? I thought you went home with Colby?" Joan asked. Brandon looked her up and down, arching his eyebrows.

"I…didn't mean to interrupt?" Brandon glanced over her shoulder, trying to find where Adam was since Joan was standing in front of him wrapped in a blanket.

"Don't gawk at me, answer the question." Joan said dramatically using the hand that was sticking out of the tightly closed blanket to smack him. "No, scratch that." She pushed him just outside the threshold of the door. "You stay there for a few minutes, okay?" She waited for him to nod slightly before she shut the door and proceeded to pull on some sweats.

"Adam, come on, put some pants on or something," Joan said, throwing his jeans at him as he sat up and yawned, stretching.

"All right…all right," He smiled sheepishly and pulled the jeans on.

"Okay then," Joan said, opening the door, "enter and answer," She waved him in. Brandon walked in cautiously.

"Hey," He greeted Adam with a handshake as he sat on the couch next to him.

"Hey…" Adam said, running his hands through his hair. "How come you're not home?"

"Thank you! That's what I asked!" Joan said, coming to rest, sitting in Adam's lap. Brandon sighed.

"I wasn't welcome there." He said. "So what are your plans for Thanksgiving dinner tonight?"

"Don't change the subject!" Joan lightly slapped Brandon's shoulder. "Why wouldn't you be welcome home?"

"It's not important," Brandon stated, standing up. "Are you guys doing anything tonight? Hayley's gotten reservations at some fancy place for dinner. She told them four, in case you wanted to join us?" He extended the offer with a smile. "Of course if you're going to skip right to having each other for dessert…ow!" He rubbed his side when Joan shoved him, each of them chuckling. "So how about it, are you in?" Brandon continued. Joan and Adam looked at each other.

"What do you think?" He asked. Joan shrugged.

"As long as there are no peanuts, I'm there." She smiled. Brandon smiled.

"Great. It's for 6:30." Brandon headed for the door. "It's kind of fancy, okay?"

Joan and Adam nodded. "Good, I'll come get you guys at 6 then. Be ready."

"Okay," Joan said.

"Later Brandon," Adam called as Brandon left, shutting the door behind him.

"I wonder why he couldn't go home?" Joan commented out loud. Adam shrugged, burying his face in her neck leaving kisses there and across her shoulder.

"Who knows?" Adam shrugged. Joan closed her eyes and ran her hand through his hair, shrugging herself.

"I sure don't…" She let the sentence trail off.

"Good morning…" Grace said awkwardly as she entered the Girardi kitchen and stretched. It was 5:30 am. She hadn't been expecting anyone to be up so early, but then she'd remembered it was a holiday and Helen was starting the food early.

"Good morning, Grace," Helen smiled warmly. "Want some coffee?" Helen asked as she filled her own mug.

Yawning, Grace nodded, "That would be excellent." Helen poured Grace a mug and set it down on the table. "Do you, want any help?" Grace asked, still feeling awkward. In Grace's opinion, Helen Girardi was quite possibly her favorite parental figure. She had always been kind and helpful to Grace even when Grace was being a smartass about late slips. "The reason I'm tardy…is because I'm late." She remembered saying to Helen one morning.

"Oh, not just yet," Helen smiled again. "I'm still making sure I have everything I need. The turkey's already in. I'm pretty sure everything's under control and I'll start chopping soon, if you want to lend a hand with that when I start?" Helen suggested. Grace offered a nod as she stirred sugar into her coffee.

"Sure, I can do that," She said, leaning her arm across the knee that she had pulled up on her chair and sipping her coffee.

"So why are you up so early?" Helen broke the momentary silence between them. One thing was for sure; Helen always wanted to inquire things of Grace. They weren't bad things, just curiosities. And so far she'd been very empathic while discussing anything with Grace. She always knew when to draw the line and back off. Grace remembered last New Year's Eve, the dawning of 2006. It was when Helen had discovered the extent of Grace's problems.

Having no good parties to go to besides the one that Luke's parents were throwing, Luke and Grace resigned to avoid most of the New Year's Eve festivities. First they'd had dinner at the Girardi party. Their plan was to eat dinner between them and Joan and when Adam arrived and ate, they were all going to head for the movie theater, where there was supposed to be a marathon of some sort until about 11 or 11:30. However, once Adam had shown up, Grace knew the plans were off. He and Joan were still at odds. Joan had only talked to Adam to invite him to the party, on Christmas Day. As far as Grace knew, Joan still hadn't made up her mind about what to do.

"Hey," Adam nodded to Grace, Luke and Joan who were seated in a corner of the living room chowing down. Grace offered a short wave and Luke did similar, since they were both chewing. Joan had put her fork down on her plate and set it on a nearby table, standing up and wiping her mouth off with a napkin. "Hey Jane," Adam said to her. It was already so loud that Joan could hardly hear him.

"Hey…Adam," Joan cleared her throat out. "Can I, uhm, talk to you, just for a minute…uhm, outside?"

Adam studied her for a moment. He nodded slowly. "Yeah. Sure," He stepped aside to let her lead the way, glancing down and noticing that she was indeed wearing the necklace he'd made for her as he followed her.

It was five minutes later that Grace and Luke had gone out front to see if Joan and Adam were ready to leave when they found the couple engrossed in a passionate kiss on the steps.

"Whoa…save it for midnight," Grace said as she passed them and headed up the walkway. "Later," she called, not having to ask if they were coming. Luke just followed along, waving goodbye to his sister and Adam, who had barely parted to say goodbye before locking lips again.

"So…are we still going to the theater?" Luke inquired, stuffing his hands in his pockets to warm them up.

"No, let's just walk," Grace shrugged. "We'll end up somewhere."

"Okay," Luke had agreed with a smile.

Sure enough by 11:30, they'd ended up in the park. Grace sat down on one of the swing, letting the flat rubber seat curl around her as she pushed with her toe and slowly swung back and forth a few inches. Luke had gone to the one next to her and stepped up onto it with one foot, holding the chains tightly, and swung his free foot to maneuver the swing back and forth from his standing position. Grace looked up at him as her swung faster and faster.

"What are you doing, brain?" She laughed slightly, though Luke could hear a slight hint of concern in her voice. Luke was grinning.

"Kevin used to make me do this all the time when I was 6," He explained, a distant look on his smiling face as he propelled back and forth. "'Go higher Luke! Push harder! Come on!' he used to yell," Luke imitated Kevin with a slight chuckle. "And then, when I got up enough momentum…" Luke moved his arms in front of the chains and waited to swing forward again before launching himself into the air. "'Jump!'" Luke called at the same moment as his take off.

"Luke!" Grace had jumped from her sitting position, watching as Luke sailed through the air. He landed on his feet with his knees bent and had to run forward a few feet because of the momentum. He stumbled and flopped over the small railing that was sticking out of the ground about 6 feet in front of the swing set. He landed on his back, laughing heartily after he'd let out a nice 'Oof!'

"Are you okay?" Grace asked as she reached him, smiling at the goofy laughing he was doing. Grace helped him up and they walked over to the drawbridge by the slides and they lay down across it, staring up at the sky. Luke's face suddenly fell slightly and he opened his eyes, which were filled with tears from laughing, and looked at Grace. "What?" Grace asked him.

"I used to think I had no good memories of Kevin from before the accident," Luke said absently, looking back at the sky.

"Oh…" Grace didn't know what to say. Luke shrugged.

"I used to only be able to remember the shoulder punches, and celebrating whenever he won a game or a trophy or an award, and only getting a 'good work, Luke' and a pat on the back when I got a blue ribbon, or a science fair award," He continued. "But then I started thinking more about it. About the playground, and the bullies who almost wet their pants when Kevin would warn them to leave me alone, and how he used to ask me what my projects were on even though he had no idea what I was talking about after explaining it to him. How he would save the last pop-tart for me since Joan was taller and I couldn't reach it before she would steal it." Luke shrugged again. "I guess I was just being stupid."

"You felt left out," Grace commented. "Adults have a way of doing that to kids when they're really into something. I used to ask my dad if I could come to work with him, so that way I would be able to see him besides on Saturday." She'd nodded. She looked over and saw Luke staring at her. "What? Do I have food on my face?"

Luke laughed. "No, I just like looking at you," He told her. Grace blushed in the darkness and gave his ribs a light elbow.

"The mush factor is reaching uncomfortable levels here," She'd said to him.

"There's only one way to combat that, then," Luke said, turning on his side. Grace offered a smirk.

"Oh?" She asked. Luke nodded and both of them practically attacked each other for the beginning of their New Year's make out session at the park. In the distance they heard neighborhood people at parties counting down on their front lawns and then exploding into commotion with horns, clackers, bangers and pots and pans.

"Happy New Year," Luke smiled when they broke apart. Grace nodded.

"Ditto," She said. They climbed off the bridge and headed out of the park. "Let's head back to your house." She suggested. Luke nodded, surprised when he felt her hand travel to his and nestle there. He smiled at her as they walked.

At the Girardi house, Joan and Adam were just finishing their New Year's Eve kiss when a figure with blonde hair had come up the walkway, shaking and wavering slightly. Joan squinted at the figure as she and Adam stood up.

"Is that…?" Joan trailed off, still trying to make out the figure in the darklight.

"Mrs. Polanski?" Adam asked as Sarah approached the steps.

"Where's my daughter?" Sarah demanded, making it to the second step before losing her balance and falling into Adam who just barely caught her. He cringed at the smell of her breath, as she talked right in his face. "Where is that little tramp?"

"Mrs. Polanski, Grace isn't here-," Joan began to say. Adam tried to help Sarah back up but Sarah shoved him off of her and stumbled up the steps.

"Don't lie to me!" She threw open the Girardi front door before Joan could stop her and barged in. Adam and Joan exchanged glances before quickly going after her.

Joan told Grace later what Sarah had done inside the house. Sarah had not only given Helen and earful about what a bad influence Joan was on Grace, and insulted Will about his job, but she had also broken a lamp, a bowl, and dumped a plastic cup of soda down the front of Helen before locating a half full bottle of wine and tilting it back to her lips, and drained it in less than 7 seconds.

Sarah had then attempted to storm out of the house. She'd gotten as far as two feet out the front door with Joan and Adam stepping out to the sides of her and Helen and Will in the doorway behind her, when she promptly leaned over and began vomiting all over.

"Mom?" Grace and Luke had just arrived up the front walk. Joan, Adam, Helen and Will all looked up to see Grace on the top step of the porch, horror stricken. "What are you doing here?" She whispered harshly to Sarah as she got closer. She looked at Helen and Will. "I-I'm sorry, I'll get her home." She said to them.

"Let me get my keys, I'll drive you," Will said.

"No!" Grace said, wrapping an arm around Sarah's shoulders. She looked at the vomit and let her mom go. "I'll clean this up first-,"

"No, Grace that won't be necessary," Helen had told Grace. She caught Grace eyes, and Grace felt paralyzed and trapped. Her eyes pleaded with Helen's to leave the situation alone. Helen gave a slight nod, and Grace knew that Helen would talk to her later about what had happened.

"I'll walk you home," Luke offered, getting on the other side of Sarah to help support Sarah's stumbling. Grace didn't argue, simply because any kind of vocal sounds would have caused her to break down and cry out of humiliation and sadness.

"Oh…I just couldn't sleep," Grace told Helen with a sheepish shrug. "I've got a lot on my mind."

"Your mother called last night," Helen said, reaching up to grab two oversized bowls out of a cabinet. She glanced a Grace, who stared at her coffee. "Is everything okay with her?"

Grace bit her lip. Not long after that New Year's Eve, Helen had cornered Grace and convinced her to come over for lunch the following Sunday since everyone had plans and would be out of the house. Grace wasn't sure why she's agreed, but Helen had that effect on people. It was at the time, over sandwiches and tea that Grace had broken down. She'd lost control of her emotions after apologizing for her mother's actions and found herself with her face buried into Helen's shoulder as Helen held onto her, stroking her hair and her back and calmly telling Grace that it would be okay and if she ever needed somewhere to stay overnight to get away, that she didn't have to sneak into Luke's room like she'd been doing for months. Grace had never been able to properly express her gratitude to Helen for understanding and no pressing the issue further than Grace could take at any given time.

"I…gave her a piece of my mind…to say the least…" Grace said anxiously as he thumb picked at the chipped paint on the mug's handle. Helen nodded, sitting down neck to Grace to finish her coffee and this conversation. Grace glanced at her and then back at her coffee. Helen put her hand on Grace's forearm.

"It's okay to tell a person how you feel, Grace," Helen said. "Especially when it's an opinion you've been bottling up for a long time. Whether she liked it or not, your mother needed to hear whatever it was you had to say to her, I'm sure."

Grace looked at Helen for a long moment. Helen just watched Grace in return, as if she was waiting for some kind of sign. Grace took a deep breath and prepared to speak. Helen listened patiently.

"Yeah…I'm not very good at this…" she cleared her throat nervously, biting her lip. "But…I never really…thanked you," Grace let her eyes meet Helen's again.

"Oh, Grace, please," Helen brushed the comment off with a wave and a smile. "There's really no need to-,"

"Yes…there is." Grace cut her off. Against her will, Grace's eyes misted up a bit. Her voice became a little shaky. "You and your family, you don't understand how much your…kindness for lack of a better term…meant…means…to me." She chuckled slightly. "You just seem like you think it's just a fact of life to treat someone who's not technically part of your family, like they've belonged there from the beginning…and I've never had that feeling for as long as I can remember…" Grace cut herself off with another nervous laugh. "This sounds so stupid, I'm sorry," She stood to excuse herself, but Helen stopped her by standing up. She blocked Grace's exit by opening her arms and hugging Grace. Grace's first instinct was to squirm away, but she didn't. Instead she hugged Helen back. "Thank you," she said.

"You are always welcome here, Grace." Helen said, moving to look Grace in the eyes and leaving her hands on Grace's shoulders as if that would stress the point. "Do you understand?" Grace nodded. "Good…now let's start chopping things," Helen moved towards the kitchen counter. Grace sniffled a deep breath, turned around and followed, feeling relieved now, instead of awkward.

"Hey you two," Joan smiled as the hostess had stopped at their table where Brandon and Hayley were already seated. Both stood. Hayley and Joan hugged quickly and Adam and Brandon shook hands before they switched places and Brand and Joan shared a hug and so did Hayley and Adam. Adam held Joan's chair for her as the others sat back down.

"Hey, we almost thought you weren't coming!" Hayley smiled.

"Sorry about that… had to tame my hair," Joan blushed slightly.

"We ordered appetizers, that way we could just wait for you two to order dinner and all. It should be here soon." Brandon told them. Adam nodded and Joan looked down at her menu.

Their dinner had started out awkwardly but by the time dessert came out, they were laughing and chatting like old friends. They dug into their apple and pumpkin pie slices and drank multiple cups of cappuccino.

"So, I don't get it, Brandon," Joan said. "If Colby went home, how come you couldn't?"

Adam cleared his throat and coughed before taking a sip of his cappuccino. Hayley looked down at her lap and Brandon's smile faded. He straightened up in his chair.

"I'm sorry…I was just, curious," Joan tried to apologize. Why must you always make me do things that upset people? ARGH! She mentally sent a note to God, reminding herself to ask the question next time God showed up, even though she knew she wouldn't get an answer.

"No, it's ok," Brandon told her. He looked at Hayley and smiled. "It's my dad's loss really," He shrugged. Hayley blushed slightly. Brandon looked at Joan. Joan looked from Brandon to Hayley and back again.

"So, this place is nice," Adam interjected, putting a piece in his mouth and closing his eyes to emphasize his statement. "Mmmmmmmmmm,"

Before any of them could control it, they started laughing at not only the look Adam put onto his face but also the fact that he now had whipped cream down the side of his lip and chin.

"What?" Adam opened his eyes, looking around at all of them. "What? What's so funny?" Adam asked as they still laughed at him.

"Come here," Joan waved him over towards her with her hand, as her laughing slowed down. Adam leaned towards her and Joan reached out and wiped the whipped cream off with her thumb before dipping her thumb into her mouth to clean the substance off of her thumb.

Brandon was about to clear his throat and make a joke, when the waiter interrupted them to ask if they needed anything else or wanted their check. As the other fought to hold their laughter in again Brandon asked for the check. As the waiter turned and left, they looked at each other and all started laughing again.

"It was because of me, you know," Hayley said to Joan as they were walking through the campus towards the dorm. Adam and Brandon were a few feet in front of Hayley and Joan as they strolled along.

"What was?" Joan asked, glancing over at Hayley as they walked. Hayley studied the ground as she walked next to Joan, every now and then she would glance at the back of Brandon's head as he and Adam spoke and laughed.

"The reason Brandon couldn't go home for the holiday is me," Hayley restated. Joan was at a momentary loss for words.

"But…that makes no sense?" She posed her statement as a question instead of a statement. Hayley snickered.

"Sure it does." Hayley laughed slightly, "Well, for me it does. Brandon's father is a racist, Joan. Actually…he's more then that from what I understand. He's a human incubator for hatred towards everyone who's not like him."

"Wow…" Joan crossed her arms as she walked. "So he what…told Brandon that he wasn't welcome at home when he found out about you?"

"Something like that," Hayley nodded. "More like cut him off completely and brought all of Brandon's possessions that he left at home to the dump."

"Is that why he got another job?" Joan asked. Hayley nodded.

"He needs the money," She sighed. "His dad said he would forgive Brandon if he let me go and apologized."

"I take it he said no?" Joan asked, though the answer was obvious. Hmm…I wonder if that's how God feels when I ask stupid questions? She wondered.

"Yeah…" Hayley shrugged and sighed. "I told him I would understand if he didn't want to keep going out, but…" She shrugged again.

"But what? Oh come on, don't leave me hanging there!" Joan said. Hayley blushed.

"Hey said his father couldn't manipulate him, he knows what he wants and if it means denying being the son of a hypocrite, then he was okay with that if it means we can still be together." Hayley explained. Joan sighed.

"Well…at least you know he's crazy about you now?" She suggested. Hayley looked at her. Joan smiled. "I mean come on, that's devotion right there…!"

Hayley, knowing Joan was trying to lighten the situation, let a smile break across her face and they laughed a little before launching into a conversation about what drives them crazy about guys.

"Now listen," Grace said to the little bundle in hr arms going by the name of Caleb. He was wide-awake and had at some point been passed to Grace. Grace was getting the same treatment as Adam, only having the prefix of Aunt in front of her name. Frankly, it freaked her out. She'd been around kids before but none this little. Dark, soft, hair covering his tiny head, and big blue eyes that searched all around Grace's face as she spoke quietly to him. She had retired to the living room as the noise in the dinning room as everyone ate and talked loudly seemed to be annoying the baby, which, Grace vaguely remembered, had been passed to her since she had declared she was done eating.

"I don't know why they gave you to me," She said. "I'm not the most stable person to hand a baby too after all." Grace sighed, wondering why she'd agreed to take Caleb when he started getting squirmy and fussy. It was probably the tired look that was lingering in Kevin and Lily's eyes that let her know that it was her job to sacrifice herself to give the family some alone time. Besides, after being absent for so long, questions were coming at her and Luke left and right and she'd started feeling a little awkward. She had been sure to remind Kevin and Lily that should their child come back to them with brain damage from her dropping him, they had fair warning.

Now she was sitting on the couch in the living room, slouched down and leaning back, carefully holding Caleb in her arms. He was in a couple layers of clothing and wrapped up all snug in a blanket. He had a little soft knit hat on his head and is hands were in little fists up by his face. Grace felt herself smile slightly.

"Well, I'll give you this much kid…you are pretty cute," She told him. "Of course, that could be because you look like your mom," she smiled to herself, almost sad that no one had been around to hear her quip.

"Hey, I resent that your test in men is less than adequate towards me," Kevin said, startling Grace as he rolled himself down the ramp and parked next to Grace's legs. Grace blushed slightly, but smirked at him. She held Caleb up as if comparing their faces and then looked at the baby.

"Yup, you are so lucky to have more of mommy's genes than daddy's," She nodded. Kevin laughed sarcastically and took Caleb off of Grace when she held the baby out to him.

"Hey there little man," Kevin rocked the infant slightly as Caleb stared at him. He glanced at Grace. "I thought you've never held a baby before?" He asked.

"I haven't," Grace shrugged.

"Could have fooled me," Kevin looked at her. Grace shrugged.

"Just be thankful that he didn't get dropped on his head." She replied. "So…" Grace searched for a topic. "How's the whole…leg thing going?"

Kevin chuckled slightly. He knew that Luke had probably given her every update about the feeling in his legs.

"Slower than I would like," He answered. "But, I can feel below my knees…and…check this out," He looked at his feet. Grace leaned forward and looked at his feet. She was about to ask him what he meant and then he noticed it. Kevin was wiggly his left foot as he smiled. Grace smiled. After all the bad things that seemed to gravitate and happen to the Girardi family, Grace was glad that at least two things had gone right for Kevin. Three if you count Lily. Now he had a baby and he was on the road to walking again.

"Well now, just think, a little move movement like that and you'll be able to put taps on your shows and put on a show," Grace teased him.

"Oh, you think that's funny don't you?" Kevin asked back sarcastically while narrowing his eyes at her.

"Oh yeah," Grace nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"Just you wait, Grace…one day…" Kevin warned.

"Oh what is that your idea of a threat? One day what?" Grace challenged. Kevin just looked at her; as if he knew some big secret about her that he was just waiting for her to figure out on her own. He looked down at Caleb when Caleb began to make noises at him, and then glanced at Grace again.

"Excuse me, I think duty calls," Kevin situated Caleb carefully in his lap and began to roll out of the room.

"You can't just leave mid-idle-threat! That's breaking the rules!" Grace called after him. Kevin looked down at Caleb.

"Is Aunt Grace being crazy?" He asked Caleb in a baby voice and then nodded. "Yeah, she's crazy." His voice faded as he rolled away in search of the diaper bag and Grace shook her head, deciding not to call back after him.

"Could it be that the incomparable Grace Polk is going soft because of a baby?" Luke questioned, sitting next to Grace. Grace narrowed her eyes at him.

"Take it back or I swear my New Year's resolution will be not to kiss you for the entire year," She threatened. Luke laughed.

"Please…you couldn't hold off if you tried," He said, more hopefully than confident. They stared at each other for a few minutes before Grace gave in. She sighed and leaned in. Luke smiled. "I knew you couldn't resist," He teased before he kissed her.

"Oh please, pssh," Grace dismissed with a wave of her hand and a sly smile, "I just didn't want you to go into some kind of catatonic state from lack of contact or something."

Luke laughed. "Is that what that was?" He asked. Grace nodded.

"Of course. I mean your eyes were glazing over and everything, it was getting pathetic." She teased.

Luke was about to respond when Lily broke their conversation.

"Hey, come on you two, dessert's on the table." She called from the foyer. Luke and Grace walked into the dinning room. Grace grabbed her stomach as she sat down.

"I don't think I can fit anymore," She said.

"I can!" Luke already had a piece of pumpkin pie and a piece of apple pie on his plate, he was in the process of grabbing a canole and some cookies before putting a dollop of whipped cream on his pumpkin pie and ice cream onto his apple pie as he said this. Everyone stared at him. He was about to dig in when he noticed this. "What?" He asked.

"How could you possibly fit anything else in there?" Grace asked. Luke shrugged.

"I haven't eaten since dinner yesterday…in anticipation," He announced proudly. Will and Kevin laughed at this. Helen and Lily shook their heads in disbelief.

"Dude, that's seriously demented," Grace told him. Luke shrugged.

"Hey…I've waited months for this meal!" Luke tried to excuse his behavior with a sheepish shrug.

"Hey, it's your stomach to overfill, brain," Grace said, holding her hands up in defense. "Go ahead and eat like a pregnant woman if it's your heart's desire," She grinned.

"Hey!" Lily interjected. Helen and Will exchanged glances and Kevin laughed.

"Well, it's okay to eat that way if you are pregnant," Grace said to Lily. She turned back to Luke, faking a serious expression. "Tell us Luke, how late are you this month?"

Luke flushed, his mouth full of pie. He swallowed it hard. A grin crossed his face. "6 weeks, Grace, and guess what," Luke leaned in as if he was going to whisper, and said quietly but loud enough to be heard by the whole table. "You're the father," He said. Everyone was laughing now and Grace just smiled at Luke. She remembered when he would stutter and fumble for a good comeback to her quips. Now those times were fewer and farther between. He started telling her that she'd been keeping him on his toes and she'd better watch out because he'd pass her soon and then she'd have to start learning more science to keep up with him.

"Wow…" Kevin cleared his throat. He looked at Lily. "I think they're acting more like a married couple than we do," He commented. "What do you think?"

Lily studied Luke and Grace, who were now blushing, for a moment. She nodded with a small grin. "Yeah, I think so,"

"Yeah, on that note, I'm totally going for something to drink," Grace stood up. "Anybody need anything?"

A chorus of 'no's' went up.

"I'll come with you to get the coffee," Helen followed Grace.

"There's some Dr. Pepper hidden in the vegetable draw," Helen said as she passed Grace and checked to see if the coffee pot was done. She grabbed a tray and started gathering mugs, sugar and milk.

"Yes!" Grace dug a can out excitedly. "Mrs. G, you amaze me," She said as she poured the soda into her cup.

"What can I say, I try," Helen smiled and shrugged sheepishly as she put the coffee pot on the tray. She stopped and looked at Grace, studying her.

"What?" Grace asked, noticing Helen's eyes on her as she finished taking a drink of the soda. Helen watched Grace for another moment and then spoke.

"You two are acting different," she observed. Grace arched her eyebrows.

"Is that…bad?" She sounded confused. Helen laughed nervously.

"No. Different isn't the right word. How about…" Helen thought for a moment. "Closer. That's it. You two are starting to resemble a married couple. Finishing sentences, quirky banter…" Helen trailed off. Grace blushed. She knew where this conversation was going, but she couldn't think of a good way to derail this train of thought.

"Uhh…well, we spend a lot of, uhm, time together," She nodded. Helen eyed her suspiciously.

"Of course, it's none of my business, but…" Helen picked the tray up. "If you two are taking part in all of the aspects of a marriage, then I at least hope the proper precautions are being taken," She said as she walked by Grace and back into the noisy dining room. Grace stood for a moment, still blushing and trying to grasp what had just transpired. Shaking her head she headed back out for the dining room.

A/N: Sorry for taking so long again. My cousin's husband (who's like one of the best guy's I know in the world-better even than Luke, ladies…) his brother died last Saturday in a motorcycle accident so on Friday I was babysitting for my cousin (who just had her second baby on the 5th, and has a 2 ½ year old daughter), from 1 pm until nearly midnight. Then the funeral was Saturday, early in the morning. And it was really long, and crowded. He was a cop (in a police biker gang aptly named the Wild Pigs no less.) Anyway, things have been busy and sad (and happy because yay baby Michael was born! He's so cute!), and frustrating. I promise you won't have to wait so long for the next update!

P.S. - Chapter title is from Adam Sandler's Thanksgiving song, duh, what else?