A/N-I just realized, I never warned you guys. The light happy fluff is going to go bye bye very very soon. So if you don't like extreme angst I suggest you stop reading when you can end on something fluffy and happy-this is about a downward spiral that's about as happy as a DH Lawrence novel (though quite less sexual-and hopefully easier to read) But anyway, the fluff stops soon and it suddenly takes a very dark turn, if you don't like stuff like that, I suggest you stop reading it now...

The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. Allan K Chalmers

He sat down at the table, working his way through a plate of pasta. Abby and Blake sat across from him, each of them picking at their meals. "My cooking can't be that bad." He said and Abby grinned before eating a mouthful.

"It's not, just been a little stressed out recently."

He chuckled. "You just graduated."

She shrugged. "Yeah, but I just applied to Harvard."

Blake chuckled. "Nothing to worry about, you'll get in."

The boy pushed his hair back out of his face. He wasn't what you would think of when you pictured an engineer in your head, he was tallish, about six foot, stick thin with mousy colored hair that seemed to be in constant need of a haircut and a face that seemed to be in constant need of a shave. Not to mention that his fashion tended more towards loose cargo pants and tee shirts.

"Easy for you to say, MIT wanted you before you finished college." Blake shrugged and took a small bite of the pasta, chewing it thoroughly before swallowing.

He watched their exchange impassively. They got along quite well and were constantly making each other grin. The two of them looked cute together, he had to admit that, Blake was a nice guy. He looked at the boy who was at the moment focusing intently on spelling things out with the pasta on his plate. And Abby had at least picked a guy with intelligence, the boy couldn't be an idiot and get into MIT.

The two of them picked some more at their meals before deciding they were finished. He looked up at them, finishing off his own plate. Blake got up before he could, and easily swept all three plates away and into the sink. Yes, the boy was a good guy, aside from the way he could talk too much and was always working on something, fidgeting when he had nothing to occupy him, he had to approve of his daughter's taste.

The three of them retired to his living room and he offered them each a glass of scotch. He had to smirk at Abby's reaction, Blake seemed rather impassive. He took a sip and watched as the boy did the same thing. Abby fought down her own sip. "Compared to beer, this stuff sucks."

"Doesn't suck, just different." Blake pointed out, taking another sip. Abby pulled out a pack of gum and offered a piece to both he and Blake, he declined, Blake took it and popped it in his mouth with practiced ease. "So, just how much fun is cutting up dead bodies for a living?"

He shrugged. "Depends. Some days it's interesting, to say the least, when you've got a mystery to solve. Others it's fairly boring. And then there's the paperwork." Abby frowned.

"Don't mention that word, it's the one thing I'm looking forward to least about being a lawyer." He chuckled.

"Hey, at least you get to see the light of day from time to time. I get to become a slave tied to doing math problems day and night." Blake grinned and downed the rest of his glass with ease.

"Yeah, but you like doing icky math all day." Abby countered and he shrugged.

"Liking and being good at are two different things. I like football, doesn't mean I'm good at it." The boy flexed his scrawny arm to emphasize his point.

"Anyway, Dad, Blake and I have to run, I promised Jenna that we'd go out tonight, and if I still have to get home-" She trailed off and he nodded, getting up along with the two of them.

"Thanks for dinner Dr. Macy." Blake said, walking to the door.

"See you Dad." He nodded, and hugged his daughter, shaking Blake's hand as the two of them walked out.

He smiled to himself, she had straightened herself out, was happier than ever, and had picked a good guy for once. He had every reason to be happy for her, she had sorted out the mess that she had been and grown up. They could finally put their tumultuous past behind them and move on with their lives.

He downed the rest of his glass of scotch, and what was left of Abby's before calling it an early night. His life was starting to fall back into place for the first time since Maggie had left, for the first time his life was looking good, for the first time in a while he was actually looking forward to the morning not as another routine day but as a new day, a great day. He chuckled, wondering what had happened to the cynic in him.