A/N: Once again, a nod to the genius of Dr. Seuss, who is following us through this story.
o O o
She took one determined step into the hallway, pausing when Spencer failed to follow. "One minute Mädchen; I forgot something," he explained in a low voice.
"You know I'm with you no matter what, right?" she reminded him softly.
"That's the one thing I'm sure of Sam. I'm right behind you."
"OK, I'll go check on the stove." She slipped away as Spencer disappeared back into the bedroom.
Glancing upwards, he spoke quietly to the empty room. "Happy Mother's Day Mom. It figures that on your day, Dad would decide to steal the show. Just like always, he has to call the shots. Well I'm not going to let him be the headliner today Mom. I'm not going to be bullied and I'm not going to be cowed. I'm proud of Sam. I'm proud of my choices and I won't say otherwise. I'll give him a chance, for Carly, and for you, but if it comes to it, I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve." He slid the top bureau drawer open, eying the contents thoughtfully. Opening the small music box that had belonged to his mother, he smiled when the miniature ice skaters glided around in figure eights as Carol of the Bells tinkled in the background. Out of season, but it always reminded him of her. He emptied the box of its lone treasure, slipping it into his pocket before closing the box gently. Speaking to himself, he headed for the door. "What do you suppose happens in a game of tug of war when someone just lets go? I'm afraid that sometimes you'll play lonely games too. Games you can't win 'cause you'll play against you. Good luck Dad; there's not much point in being king of an empty castle."
When he stepped through the door, his pulse was fast but his head was high. Ready…set…GO…
o O o
Sam resumed her position in the kitchen, amused to find Granddad hovering anxiously over the simmering pot. "Hey Granddad, how's it going?" she asked amiably.
"Hello there Sam; I was just, umm, previewing what's for dinner."
She leaned in conspiratorially, "It's OK Granddad; Spencer hasn't set anything on fire in weeks."
He paled, whispering back, "doesn't that mean he's overdue?"
"Hmm…I hadn't thought of it exactly that way," Sam commented with a smile. "Don't worry; I'll keep an eye on it. Why don't you go catch up with Carly? I'm sure she has loads to tell you, with prom coming up next weekend, and graduation right around the corner."
"Well if you think it's safe," Granddad mumbled doubtfully, shuffling back towards the living room. Sam watched him with a pang. Granddad Shay had always been energetic - full of vitality, but today he looked slow and tired. She wasn't sure exactly how old he was – past eighty now? For the first time the thought crossed her mind that Carly's small family could get even smaller. And here was Spencer on the verge of a potentially permanent split from his father, as she encouraged him all the way. So which mountain should she actually be moving? A question that would have to be pondered later, because Spencer –
"Thanks babe, " he leaned in to give her a kiss. "I've got this; would you get the shrimp out for me?"
Or maybe now. That was definitely intended as a heads up; Spencer NEVER called her "babe."
"I'm on it sweetie." Scooting past him to the fridge, she reflected that he'd neglected to mention that he was ALSO bringing the red cape.
Taking the package from her with a small smile, he looked over his shoulder at the group in the living room. "Hi Granddad, we're glad you can be with us today." Almost as an afterthought he added, "And what a nice surprise. Welcome home Dad." His tone was mild, but standing at his elbow, Sam could feel the current running underneath.
Carly shot a worried look into the kitchen; Sam thought she might have missed the earlier exchange, otherwise occupied in an animated conversation with her father. Animated on her end anyway; while his head was inclined towards his daughter in an attentive manner, the Colonel's eyes flicked around the room as if searching for hidden threats. Sam was certain HE hadn't missed it, and just as certain that Spencer hadn't intended him to. She inched closer to him as the Colonel rose from his seat.
"Spencer," the Colonel acknowledged curtly. "You're looking well."
"I am well, thank you. And you? How have you been?"
"Fair to middling, Son. Fair to middling. That aside, perhaps you'd care to introduce me to –"
Carly jumped in nervously. "Oh my gosh, Dad, I was so excited to see you that I completely forgot that you haven't met my BEST FRIEND Sam. She does the web show with Freddie and me, and –"
Inside, Sam was shaking her head, thinking 'sorry my friend, but we're not going to play it that way.' "AND," she finished for Carly, "I'm Spencer's girlfriend. Very pleased to meet you after all this time. Sir."
The challenge in her tone was unmistakable and Carly clasped her hands together nervously. "Maybe you'd like to see the studio Dad; Sam and I can show you the whole set up. We have a green screen and a whole slew of awesome props…"
Ignoring both girls, the Colonel focused intently on Spencer. "Is this true Spencer?"
"Oh sure Dad. They've got a fab set up. You should definitely take a look. Freddie is a tech wizard. He even programmed my phone to accept voice commands."
"That is NOT. What I meant."
"Really? Because I'm pretty sure that the relative awesomeness of the props was the only part of that conversation that was subject to opinion and therefore might require substantiation. Everything else was strictly factual." The thunderheads gathered as he continued, "But as Sam says, good things bear repeating. If your actual question relates to the nature of our relationship, then by all means, let me clear the air and answer. Yes, Sam is Carly's best friend, and yes, Sam is ALSO my girlfriend."
"Well then Spencer, I think you will need to further clarify your definition of girlfriend. Certainly this young lady is a girl, and as Carly's friend I'm willing to accept that she is also your friend – I sincerely hope I have not misconstrued you."
Locking eyes with his father, his gaze did not waver. "You're right Dad. I should definitely clarify that statement. It would be unfair to call Sam just my girlfriend. Sam is my motivation. Sam is my inspiration. Sam is my compass. Sam brings Technicolor to a black and white world. I love her."
"You LOVE her," the Colonel repeated to himself. "Am I to understand that you are involved with this girl?"
"That's no business of yours Dad, and quite frankly, your 'understanding' of the situation is not required."
"You're telling me that you're IN LOVE. That you're involved with - as in having sexual relations? With a teenager? A HIGH SCHOOL student?" he roared at Spencer. "This is the absolute last straw Spencer. I left you IN CHARGE of this household. I left you IN CHARGE of your sister. You're an adult. I expected you to behave in an adult fashion. I expected you to be a role model. I came home early because there are some financial arrangements to be made. As much as it pains us to discuss, your Granddad won't always be here to deal with these things. I need to know whether they can be left in your hands. And this is what I find. This is beyond outrageous Spencer. I think you need to take this girl home, and then you and I are going to have a SERIOUS conversation about what needs to happen in your immediate future."
Spencer clasped Sam's hand tightly. She'd been unnaturally quiet; emotions swirling in her eyes. She'd started the afternoon as just Sam, but all of her versions were on alert, just waiting. Any moment now a button would be pushed and one of them would rush to the surface…
"She IS home Dad. "
"What?" No longer loud, his quiet question was somehow much more ominous.
"Sam. Is. Home. She lives here."
Carly didn't think it was possible for someone to turn that shade of red without having a stroke. "Daddy," she pleaded desperately, "Please just listen to-"
"Be still," he commanded, never taking his eyes from Spencer. "This does not concern you."
"Are you telling me this girl's parents CONDONE this relationship? What kind of parents allow their daughter to behave in such a fashion? Furthermore, what sort of man takes advantage of a girl who clearly has inadequate supervision and guidance?"
When Sam stepped around the counter and raised her chin, he knew the button was pushed. Which Sam was engaged? He followed immediately, standing beside her with his arms folded across his chest as though he had just stepped out of his own cartoon.
"Do not speak of things about which you have no knowledge, Colonel Shay. It leaves open the opportunity for error. I think you are a man who doesn't like to be wrong, and I assure you that if you continue to pursue this disagreement with Spencer – and with me – you will find yourself in a very wrong place."
"Girl, you are out of line. "
"Respectfully sir, you are. You imply that I can't possibly know my own mind, but that couldn't be farther from the truth."
The glint in Spencer's eye alarmed Carly; she was very afraid that whatever came next would precipitate the eruption. She looked beseechingly at Granddad, who was watching the volley with increasing agitation.
"What would Noelle say, Steven? " Granddad interrupted unexpectedly. "You dishonor her memory, behaving this way." All eyes turned to him in surprise.
"She's not HERE Dad. She's gone and I can't get her back," the Colonel replied fiercely. "There is no one to deal with this but me, and clearly some dealing needs to be done."
"Don't act like she doesn't MATTER Dad." Spencer jumped in. "She ALWAYS matters. I did this for HER. I watched over Carly for HER. You LEFT us Dad. You left me to do your job. You left Carly without any parents at all. What gives you the right to come in here and pass judgment on our lives? We're too much like her. You can't stand it can you – the creativity, the spontaneity, the lack of structure. It just makes you crazy."
"Oh you were spontaneous all right. And you were DEFINITELY lacking structure. And you were also lacking inhibition, good judgment and moral values of any kind. You call this creativity? I call it bohemian debauchery."
"Is that how you felt about Mom?" Spencer dug in his pocket. The stone sparkled when he held it to the light, recently polished and as brilliant as the day it had been slipped on his mother's finger. Without a word he slipped it on Sam's hand– not on her left, but on her right, where she stared at it wide-eyed. "This is what I'm telling you Dad. Whether or not you agree. There is no sense in being in a relationship unless you're in it for the long haul. I was going to give this to her for graduation, but you changed my mind. I'm giving it to her now. This is my promise to her that I will NEVER WALK AWAY. It is my promise to always put her first. When the day comes, the only person in the world with the power to keep me from moving that ring to her other hand is Sam herself."
The silence grew as father and son stared each other down.
"You are two of the most bull-headed men I have ever met," Granddad opined. "You don't think you're alike? You're not at each other's throats because of the things that make you different. Don't be a hypocrite Son; you're holding a double standard. Are you saying that your relationship with Noelle was wrong? Of course you're not. You loved her. It's evident that Spencer loves Sam. You have no room to call the kettle black - tell them the story of how you met their mother and got her to marry you. If you won't tell them, I will. That man still exists somewhere, and you need to find him again - before you find yourself in that very wrong place." He moved to pat Sam on the shoulder and she flashed him a grateful smile.
"You're AGREEING with him Dad? I didn't rear my children this way."
"You didn't rear them at all Steven. Noelle did. And I did. And Spencer did. And all things considered, we did a damn good job. So I want you to TELL them, because I do think it's possible to reach a meeting of the minds, and I will not let you throw away the good work that we did. She's not gone Steven; she's still here in your children, and it would break her heart to see this."
The words came slowly, dragged out reluctantly, from some far place. He seemed to examine them as he dusted the memories off and the picture grew in front of them. "She was beautiful kids, just beautiful…"