Greer's Defense

Genre: Family; Drama

Pairings: Greg and Molly

Main characters: Greg, Molly, Greer, Johnnie, Scott

Molly not only knew it was a matter of time, but she knew exactly how her husband would approach it.

In the kitchen, preparing dinner as this day it was her turn, she heard Greg arrive through the door, greet their boys with hearty enthusiasm, and speak in friendly tones to Missy and Morrie.

She rinsed her hands under the tap and dried them on a towel as Greg strolled in, arms open and face alight with anticipation of their customary greeting. When they finally broke away from their day-long awaited kiss, he levelled a look at her.

"So, where is our daughter?"

Molly cleared her throat. "In her room. Of her own volition, I shall add. It's a long story, but she had witnesses. You may want to talk to her and the boys both as they can attest to her version. I've spoken to others who were there on the playground and they corroborate what Johnnie and Scott say happened…"

"Ought I to be worried, Love?" Greg simply said to this.

"No, I don't think so… Now I'm not one to condone physical violence but I will say the little shit had it coming."

Greg's eyes widened at this in mild shock, before he cocked his head at his wife and narrowed his eyes inquisitively. "What the hell has happened, Love?" he finally asked, as Molly gave him a small smile and turned back to her meal preparations.

"Best ask our children, I think," she replied simply. "Oh, and Greg," Molly said, as he turned to leave the kitchen, "try not to be alarmed when you see Greer. I assure you she came out the better of the two. And I believe the reason she's hold up in her bedroom is… well I think she's a bit afraid of what you'll think. You know how she dreads the idea of disappointing you in any way."

Greg frowned at this, an expression of deep concern shrouding his features. "Right, then. Thanks Love," he replied.

When he had made his way back to the living room, he motioned for Johnnie and Scott to come to him.

"Boys," Greg said solemnly, "I think we need to have a bit of a chat. Your mother tells me Greer is in her bedroom?"

The young brothers shared a look. Scott sighed deeply. "Yes Daddy. Try not to be mad at her, please? It wasn't her fault, honest it wasn't. In the end she really wasn't given much choice."

"Daddy," Johnnie said, as he followed his dad and his brother to Greer's door, "we saw the whole thing. We were there, and well… I know it's not the RIGHT way to feel, but Scott and I… well we're actually quite proud of her."

Greg took a deep breath while he considered his young sons, looking each of them in the eyes. Neither boy blinked, but simply returned the look of determined serenity. Clearly they felt all would be well for their sister, in the end, and Greg found this to be quite reassuring.

Finally, he knocked on the door. "Greer, I'd like to have a word with you. Might I come in, Little Love?"

Johnnie and Scott glanced to each other with concern when a full minute of silence passed without the door opening. Uncomfortably, they shuffled their feet.

"Greer Sherla, I'd like to speak with you. This isn't optional, Little Love. If you don't open the door, I'm coming in anyway."

Another ten seconds passed before Johnnie and Scott heaved a great breath of relief as slowly, the door opened, and Greg was met with the downturned face of his young daughter. Wordlessly, the twin boys went to flank their sister as Greg crouched down to better meet her level.

"Little Love, what's happened, you don't have to be afraid of how I'll react. It seems you have a great many defenders to speak on your behalf," he said softly. He brought his hand up to lift her chin gently, and his eyebrows shot up to see the blackened eye his daughter was suddenly sporting.

"I got into a fight, Daddy. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it to happen… you know I've a terrible temper but I've always managed to never lose it. Well, HARDLY ever lose it. But this time I was just SO angry…" Greer's voice had never sounded so small and meek, to Greg, and this concerned him a great deal.

"Daddy, I don't think she's going to tell you what happened… I mean REALLY happened," Scott said. "Seems she thinks herself guilty of something horrid, but it wasn't like that at ALL." At this, Greer scowled at her older brother briefly, before her expression returned to one of shame and sadness.

"Right, then… tell me boys, since you seem determined to act as your sister's defense counsel, what actually happened."

"We were in the schoolyard, and Greer was with her friend Faith. Well, you see Faith has trouble sometimes because she has a bit of a stutter. Usually she isn't picked on much because of it because everyone likes her really and they know better than to be so mean, but today there was a boy who decided to make fun of her," Johnnie started.

"He's a right proper bully, Daddy," Scott said. "Everyone knows it. It's about time he got put in his place, I'd say," an angry note forming in his voice. He cleared his throat as he pushed the anger down. "Anyway, he started picking on Faith, and Greer told him to stop. He's older than us, and bigger too. That's why he's such a bully, he knows he can get away with it."

"He wouldn't stop," Johnnie said, insistence beginning to tinge his voice. "Greer told him to again, and that's when he hit her. Greer I mean, not Faith."

"I see. Greer hit him back then, I take it?" Greg asked, his expression softening.

"Yes, Daddy. She hit him hard, good and proper. Only once, mind you. But his nose bled and he actually started to cry. Daddy, he's SO much taller and bigger than even Scott and I," Johnnie said. "But Greer HAD to defend herself, didn't she? He hit her first. She was only trying to protect Faith, and he punched her for it."

"Daddy," Greer finally spoke. "I know sometimes the right thing to do in one way isn't the right thing to do in another way. How do I know then? Hitting is bad, I know that, but… I HAD to let him know he couldn't get away with it anymore."

"Well," Greg said, scratching his head, "I can see why your brothers are so proud of you. Now I wouldn't say I'D go quite that far, but I AM very pleased with you for defending your friend from a bully," he began, as he wrapped an arm around Greer and drew her close to him. "And as for punching him, it seems to me this was a clear case of self-defense. And perhaps this boy will think twice before trying it again." He smiled down at his daughter as he brought his hand to nudge her chin up to look at her in the eyes. "Oh, Little Love, that's quite the shiner you're sporting. Mummy said you came out the better of the two of you. Not sure where you learned to hit like that but I reckon you won't have any more trouble from that young blighter if he looks worse than you do right now."

"You're not angry with me then?" Greer asked, her mouth still downturned in worry. "Hitting is bad, I shouldn't have done it…"

"Yes, Little Love. Hitting is bad. But nobody could reasonably expect you to let yourself be beat up, now could they? Especially when you tried twice to resolve the conflict verbally, which is exactly what you should have done, and you DID do," Greg replied softly. He smiled at his daughter as reassuringly as he could. "You had every right to defend yourself when things went pear shaped, and I'm glad you're not afraid to do so… so NO, of course I'm not angry with you."

Greer drew in a deep breath, then let it out in a rush as she snuggled against Greg's chest. "Thank you Daddy. I feel better now… well except for my eye. Oh, it's awfully sore."

"It'll feel better soon enough," Greg said. "Now, if you've appetite, and I suspect you do, I believe your mother has dinner ready. I don't know about you," he said, grinning warmly at each of his children in turn, "but I'm famished. Come on then," he said, rising to his feet with Greer still in his arms, "let's go eat," he said, ushering them out of Greer's bedroom.