Once Mary was in the kitchen, beginning to prepare dinner, she heard her youngest daughter talking.
"Are you going to be my new Auntie?" Michelle's voice questioned innocently. Mary heard the female CSI laugh slightly.
"No sweetie, your Uncle Greg and I are just friends that work together," Sara's voice replied.
"Oh…will you still play with me outside Miss Sara?" Michelle asked. Mary heard Sara agree, followed by the sight of Sara and Michelle walking though the kitchen and out into the backyard. No sooner had they gone out the door Mary heard her father talking to Greg.
"Greg, I'm not sure that I want you involved with that woman. She's very nice but she seems to have a lot of baggage, it just radiates off her." Christopher was saying.
"Dad, I don't care. Sara could have all the baggage in the world and that wouldn't change the way I feel about her. I love her Dad, and nothing is going to change that!" Greg was saying firmly, a hostile edge in his voice.
"Greg please, I don't want her hurting you," Christopher said, trying not to show his anguish.
"No Dad. If Sara is happy then so am I. Even if she doesn't end up with me I will always love her and I will be content to know she's happy." Greg snarled before coming into the kitchen, the swinging door flying shut behind him. He walked over to the counter, violently slamming his fists down onto the laminated surface. "Why can't Dad ever be content with my choices?" he asked the floor.
"He cares about you Greg; he just doesn't want your heart to get broken." Mary told him quietly.
"Don't tell me you agree with him Mare!" Greg growled. Mary laughed to herself as she threw some chopped chives into the baking pan.
"As if! When I have I ever agreed with Dad? But no, you have no idea how much I respect your decision Greg. You've matured so much lately. You've truly mastered the concept of if you love someone you'll let them go. I never thought you'd reach such a mental plateau. I'm really proud of you Greg." Mary stated as she turned to her younger brother. Greg gazed back at her in astonishment.
"Are you serious Mare?" he inquired.
"Yeah. I really respect you and the choices you've made, despite what Mum and Dad think. No matter what I'll always support you." Mary told him. Greg grabbed onto her then, hugging her tightly. Mary could feel him shaking in her arms, obviously crying.
"I love her so much Mare, why can't they understand that? And why can't Sara see that? How can she not know how much I love her? I would do anything for her." He questioned. Mary sighed, rubbing his back softly.
"It's just like I told you Greg, you have to show her. Evidently she cares about you, I mean look! She flew all the way out to New York just to return your cell phone. She's scared to open her heart because she's been hurt too many times. Show her that you won't break her heart like all those other guys. I know I sound like a broken record sometimes but I'm telling you the truth." Mary explained. Greg nodded against her shoulder.
"Sorry about all this Mare, it's not your problem," Greg apologized, backing away from her and walking over to the sink, gazing out the window.
"Don't be sorry Greg. You never need to apologize for loving someone. Don't you remember how crazy Kev and I were when we were younger? Dad didn't approve of our relationship because he was scared of Kevin's abilities. But now look at us, we've been married for 15 years and we have three beautiful kids together and Dad's okay with it. He just needs some time to adjust to the idea. Don't give up on this Greg," Mary said, standing behind him smiling as she watched Sara chase Michelle around the backyard.
"I could never give up on her." Greg responded. Mary grinned.
"Good, now go finish raking those leaves!" she laughed, gently pushing him out the back door. Greg quickly wiped the tears from his face before picking up a rake and heading for the front lawn.
Sorry about the shortness of this chapter but my head is pounding and it's all I can stand to type right now. I promise I'll update it again within the next 7 days if my migraine dissipates which I'm hoping it will. I have the entire thing practially finished on paper because I worked on it during my vacation but I may not be able to update alot because my exams are coming up so I have to study. Ahh who am I kidding? I never study. Anyways, hope ya'll liked it, and if you did let me know by pressing that little button. :)