This chapter was another add-on (like the last), so it took me a little longer to post because I still actually had to write it. Here we have some much-needed conflict. This is less Crellie-centered until the end but I think we needed to see how the two of them would handle an issue (to an extent), especially when it doesn't necessarily concern them. But I also explored - or at least addressed - their relationship more directly here, I think. Gotta love good ol' Joey.

7 October 2012

Sometimes, he misses Julia so much, he can't think of anything else. He thinks of her easiness and grace and her way with words and wonders how he ever made it this far without her. There is only so much one man can handle on his own.

This was one of those times.

What is a single parent to do when he… well, doesn't know what to do?

His attention reverts back to the present and he can barely bring himself to look at his daughter. Her eyes are cast towards the ground, naturally – teenagers are shameful, guilty creatures and he's never had a clue on how to handle them. One would think after having to deal with Craig, he'd be an expert, ready for anything but really, he was just as clueless as ever.

And he had never had this problem with Craig. Granted, he'd had worse… but still. Besides, he had never been a teenage girl. He had no idea raising one would be so… complicated.

He looked over at Craig, who was in town for a visit with that redheaded friend of his and seated with said friend at the opposite end of the room, and was reminded of his mother's passion and determination. In his daughter, he saw her softness and understanding. Usually. Now, he just saw a scared and vulnerable little girl and he didn't know what to do to help her.

What do you do when your little girl, your baby, starts sneaking around with someone nearly seven years older than she is? How do you even begin to understand that kind of behavior and how do you get away with murdering the son of a bitch who thought sneaking around with a minor would be a smart decision?

Most importantly, how do you stop your kids from growing up?

He sighed heavily.

He really missed Julia.

As he stared at his daughter, he contemplated on what the best punishment would be. Now that the initial intense fit of rage had simmered down into concern and, okay, some still pretty intense anger, he was thinking more clearly.

Suddenly, Craig shot up out of his seat, uncrossing his arms. There was an unexpected tone of anger and resentment in his tone. "Are we really not going to say anything?" he glanced from Angie to Joey a few times in disbelief. "Come on!"

"Craig," he began, not making direct eye contact, "I think we've all yelled and fought enough for one day, don't you think?"

"Craig, sit down," he heard Ellie whisper as she tugged at the hem of his black leather jacket. He yanked himself away from her loose grasp and shot her a look. She stood up then, too. "I think we should probably go… Now."

"Now?" was Craig's response. "We're kind of in the middle of a family situation right now, El. A situation I can't believe no one is doing anything about!" He directed the last part towards Joey.

"Craig, in case you're forgetting, you weren't exactly the poster child for good behavior!"

"That is not the point here!"

"The point is…" Ellie's voice began to rise. "You are not in the position to be making judgments on what constitutes good parenting. You are not her father. You are not even a father! I think Joey is more qualified to handle this than you are."

He appreciated her help and her faith in his capability as a parent, but he wasn't sure she was right. Was he really any more qualified to handle an issue like this than Craig? He certainly didn't feel that way.

Craig didn't look at Ellie. He didn't look at Joey or Angie, either. He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, shifting his focus towards the kitchen.

Ellie grabbed at his arm and tried to pull him towards her. "Let's just go, okay? Craig?" she begged, her voice much lower now.

He still wasn't having it and snapped at her. "You can go."

Ellie's eyes widened in both anger and disbelief and she hesitated for a moment before excusing herself and exiting the house. Craig winced as the front door slammed behind her.

Now, it was Angela's turn to speak up. "What I did was stupid, okay, I get it now! I am embarrassed and ashamed of myself! I know you have no reason to, but... I've already told you the whole truth, believe it if you want." She was near tears again and Joey felt his heart break for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "The damage is already done, okay? I won't see him anymore, I promise. Dad, just punish me. No more dating 'til I've graduated from college, no more going out on weekends for the rest of my high school life – whatever! I deserve it. I messed up and I don't need to keep messing everything else up, too!"

At this point, she couldn't keep herself from crying. She spoke between sobs, all but gasping for air. "I-I-I don't w-want to fight anymore. I don't want," pause for hiccupped cry, "anyone to fight."

She stormed up the stairs and retreated to her bedroom again. Joey, exhausted, allowed himself to sink down into his favorite armchair. He looked at his stepson and furrowed his brow.

"I admit defeat," he said, covering his face with his hands. "I have no idea what I'm doing. One minute I don't know who she is and then I look at her and she's still my baby. Craig, I just… don't know what to do."

Craig crossed the room slowly and kneeled down on the floor beside him, reaching over to pat his back sympathetically. "I know. I'm… I'm sorry."

"I wish your mother were here."

For a minute or two, the room was painfully silent. It wasn't as if they never talked openly about Julia; it was more about the realization that she wasn't really there.

No matter how much they convinced themselves that her spirit was always with them, watching over and protecting them, deep down, they knew the truth. And the truth, as it so often does, hurt like hell. They couldn't look to her for answers. The best they could do was to imagine what she would have done in such a situation, or use the strength of her love and her memory to deal with this themselves. But it wasn't enough.

Joey just couldn't help but to blame himself. He couldn't (or rather, refused to) see the early signs Craig had exhibited just before he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. And now this.

He remembered why Craig had even come home for the weekend. This was already shaping up to be one of the worst, possibly most awkward, holidays they've had in awhile.

"I think we don't understand why she did what she did because it's Angie. Because, really, I think about it with someone else in her place and I get it. I don't like it, but I guess I do understand…" Craig trailed off and sighed. "To tell you the truth, I think I'm more angry with the guy than I am with her. I swear to God, if I ever see his stupid face again-"

Joey cut him off with a sad excuse for a laugh. "My sentiments exactly."

Craig sighed again. "I should probably see where Ellie ran off too. I shouldn't have snapped at her that way."

"Yeah," Joey agreed and smiled at the welcome change of subject. "Hey, if you don't mind me asking, why'd she come up here with you, anyway? She doesn't have her own family to spend Thanksgiving with tomorrow? Is there something you're not telling me about?" He winked.

"Ellie's…. a really good friend," was all Craig could come up with. "Besides, she wanted to see you guys. She missed Angie."

"Well, I already know she's a good friend. She has to be, for sticking with you for so long."

Craig narrowed his eyes at him. "Funny."

They both knew he was right, though.

"It's… complicated," he admitted. "Let's just leave it at that. Things are always kind of complicated with us, though, aren't they? All I do know is… I have to have her in my life, you know? One way or another. I can't risk losing her friendship again."

Joey had a few words of wisdom based on his own experience that he wanted to share with him, but he didn't have the chance. The moment he was finished speaking, he got up and opened the front door, crossing his arms as he let out a small laugh. "You didn't get far, did you?"

Joey maneuvered his head around to see Ellie sitting on the top step of their front porch.

"Took you long enough," she said as she stood up and walked back inside the house. They stared at each other for a moment.

"I'm sorry," he finally spoke.

"I know," she smiled sincerely. "Uh, hey," she addressed Joey now. "Is it okay if I go talk to her? As someone with more than enough experience making bad decisions, I think she really could use someone to talk to right now. Maybe a female perspective." She glanced back at Craig. "Unless you'd like to volunteer," she teased.

Joey nodded and forced a friendly smile. Maybe he didn't know why she had come along to spend the holiday with them when she had finally been able to reconnect with her own family, but he was very grateful that she did.

As I am sure you could probably tell, I didn't quite know exactly how to end this so forgive me if the ending is kind of... meh. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! :)