A/N: Hello to all! Grace is NOT the leading role in this story, but she is definitely going to be there through just about everything. So you fell in love with her, maybe you'll fall in love with Lindsay's "guests". Read on. BTW, the reviews for LTG were great. I love you all and hope that this story lives up to your standards

Parental Obligations: Of Children and Attitude

Mac was headed to a crime scene with Danny when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID. It was Lindsay. Since him and Stella had pulled an all nighter, she'd taken Grace for the night. "Taylor," he answered pleasantly.

"Umm," Lindsay said. "I'm uh sick."

Mac paused, his mind racing through the possible reasons she could be lying to him. There were so many involving a hurt Grace. Her muffled laugh caused him a little confusion. "What's going on?" he demanded crossly.

Lindsay cleared her throat, realizing that laughing into the phone probably wasn't the best way to convince your boss that you were sick. She was a terrible liar. "Okay, I'm not really sick," she admitted. "I need the day off."

Mac nodded even though she couldn't see him. "I appreciate you telling the truth," he said in a tone that told her that he didn't appreciate her attempt at lying. "Is everything okay?"

"It's fine," Lindsay muttered, feeling like she was talking to a disappointed parent. "I'll take Grace to her last day of school and pick her up. I--I'll explain everything later, okay?"

She hung up before Mac could really respond. She looked at the three girls seated on her couch. "Grace," she said. "Go get dressed. I need to talk to your new friends alone."

Grace looked up at Lindsay with wide eyes. The older woman looked positively furious. "Are you going to yell at them?" she asked with wide eyes. "Yelling isn't fun at all."

Lindsay couldn't help but smile. "I might yell at them," she said truthfully, "but they deserve it." She spared them a brief, furious look before crouching down to Grace's level. "It's your last day. Go get dressed so you won't be late."

Grace reluctantly went into Lindsay's bedroom and got her new dress off the hanger. It was picked special for the last day of school.

Lindsay studied the girls sitting on the couch. The older one, a teenager with a bad attitude, had light brown hair that was twisted up in a messy bun. Her light brown eyes were closed as she prepared herself for the yelling that was bound to come. Her posture screamed 'I don't care!' and the frown that marred her beautiful, innocent face showed just how unhappy she was.

The younger one was very small. Her long hair was a darker brown that the older girl's and it was French braided into two long braids. Her eyes, also darker brown than the older girl's, were studying her shoes very intently. She was sitting there, her hands playing with her braids, a shy, almost scared look on her face.

Lindsay opted to yell at them later. "I missed you two so much," she said sincerely, looking at her two daughters.

"Whatever." Elizabeth Monroe stood up and stalked into the bathroom, slamming the door.

"Sister's mad," Samantha said sadly.

"I know," Lindsay said.

Grace came out of the bedroom with her shoes in her hand and her backpack on her back. "I don't want to wear these," she announced loudly in a voice that expressed her dislike for the cutesy dress shoes that went along with the dress.

Samantha was a little afraid of the forward girl. She was a very shy girl, and Grace was the kind of person who would get along with anyone at any given moment. Samantha had to take the time to get used to people.

"Wear your tennis shoes," Lindsay said.

Grace was positively delighted by the idea. "That'll be great!" she squealed. "I can look pretty and still run!" She pumped her arm to what she considered a victory and went to get her shoes.

Lindsay noticed Elizabeth standing in the bathroom doorway. She thought about when she answered the door no more than thirty minutes earlier to receive quite a shock.

"Hey mom," Elizabeth said flatly. "How are you? All well, I hope. I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but these bags are heavy."

Samantha timidly smiled up at her mom. "Hi, mommy," she said in a small voice.

Lindsay bent over and picked her baby daughter up. "What are you two doing here?" she asked as she hugged Samantha close.

"Yeah," Elizabeth said, dumping their bags right inside the door. "It's nice to see you too."

Even though she was still angry with her mother, she couldn't resist the hug that was being offered. It felt so good to be back in her arms. "I'm going to kill you," Lindsay whispered, the tears in her voice obvious.

Elizabeth pulled away and wrapped her arms around herself. "So..."

"Hi!" Grace said cheerfully, wearing her pink Barbie nightgown. "I'm Grace."

"Hmm," Elizabeth said, looking down at the little girl. "Looks like we've been replaced, Sam."

"Elizabeth!" Lindsay scolded.

Grace proceeded to talk, completely unfazed by the lack of response and the fear on Samantha's face.

Elizabeth looked over at her mother. "Babysitting? There are better ways to go back to your teenage days."

Lindsay sighed and placed Samantha on the couch. "Sit," she ordered firmly. "I have to make a phone call." She needed some time alone with her kids. To catch up, to yell at them, and to clear the air. She knew they weren't going to make it easy on her.

"I have to take Grace to school," Lindsay said. "Do you want to stay here or come with?"

"Come with," Samantha said in a small voice. Elizabeth nodded her agreement, not meeting her mother's eyes.

"Great," Grace said. "Come on. I can show you my school. I'm going to be in the second grade next year!" She was wiggling with excitement.

Even Elizabeth had to smile at that.

TBC... Considering I'm almost done with the next chapter, I think I'm making pretty good time. It's going to be a fun story...I can tell