Chapter Nine

"Dinner's ready." He had been standing in the doorway of Rebeccas room for nearly five minutes now but couldn't seem to take his eyes off of the scene in front of him. Becca had the floor littered with barbies and apparently she had decided it a good time to change all their clothes but the real sight was Nate who was obviously playing hair dresser. His lap was covered in clips and scrunchies and he was struggling with a blue eyed blondes ponytail.

Jumping slightly as Eliot broke the semi silence they had been sitting in Nate embarrassedly tossed the doll to the side as he tried explaining. "I was just... She had asked me to.."

"Nate it's fine." Eliot laughed at his embarrassment. "Pete and I play with Becca all the time but you really do need to work on your hair skills." Eliot pointed to an especially bad looking business barbie whos hair was nearly standing straight on her head. "No self respecting woman would go out like that."

"Well I don't plan on making hair styling a habit." Nate grumbled as he pushed himself off the floral area rug with a bit of difficulty.

"That's good to know." Eliot took great amusement in Nates offense. "Becca lets go, you can play later." When she just ignored him Eliot opened his mouth to warn her but Nates hand on his arm stopped him from saying anything else.

Stooping in front of Rebecca Nate silently offered his hand to her and was glad to see she willingly put her doll down and accepted it, and if he was smirking just a bit to much when they stood well it wasn't because she had obeyed him and not Eliot.

"You're such a smug b-"

"Language." Nate had clamped a hand over Eliots mouth expecting the next word that was going to come out. What he hadn't expected was for Eliot to lick his hand. "That's disgusting!"

"Don't cover my mouth." Eliot gave his own smirk as he watched Nate repeatedly rub his hand over his pant leg.

"You guys comin'?" Aaron had gladly taken the job of finding the other three when his mother started talking about seating arrangements.

"Right now." Eliot started down the short hallway and past where his brother stopped going straight down the carpeted staircase, the others following.

"Eliot" Aaron stopped him right before they got to the open entrance of the dining room.

"Yeah?" Eliot asked as he gave Becca a nudge indicating her to continue on her way.

"Just thought I'd give you the heads up that dad took a seat at the head of the table." Aaron knew his father had only taken that spot to watch them in detail and scrutinize their every move.

"Of course he did." Eliot grumbled fighting the urge to roll his eyes, something about his parents being so close made him feel like that tired 15 year old he once was.

Nate gave Eliots shoulder a reassuring squeeze as they entered the dining room, he had been observing the whole family and had learned a few things; One, Eliot didn't seem like himself around his parents, two, Aaron looked to feel the same way, and three, Caroline and Michael Spencer looked down their noses when it came to their boys, especially Eliot. He noticed that they seemed to interact greatly with their grandchildren and wondered why they couldn't have done the same with their own three.

"Aaron come sit next to me." Caroline patted the only available seat left on the right side of the table, Ashlee was on her other side placed directly between his parents and looking extremely uncomfortable.

"Sure." He glanced longingly at the two open chairs before making his way around the "kids" table and to his spot in between his mother and Brian.

"I know we don't usually say grace but since this is the first time we've all been together in awhile and we've had the pleasure of spending this day with extended friends and future family," Sarah paused smiling at Ashlee. "I thought it would be nice to say a little prayer. So Eliot would you be nice enough to start us off and anyone else is welcome to add as they wish." She glanced to her right where all other eyes had fallen on Eliot as well.

"Umm.." Damn Sarah, he was going to kill her for putting him on the spot like that. "I don't know if-"

"I think you'd be better off starting it yourself Sarah, the boy never was very religous." Michael advised, he took his family to church every week and had the kids go to Sunday school but it didn't seem to have worked with his sons.

"Brian why don't you.."

"No Pete it's fine I've got this." Eliot wasn't going to stoop to his fathers level, he could do a simple prayer.
"In a world where so many are hungry may we eat this food with humble hearts; in a world where so many are lonely, May we share this friendship with joyful hearts; In a world where so many walk in fear, May we savor this happiness with faithful hearts. Lord we thank you for the shelter you have so kindly blessed us with, the life that you granted us to do as we so choose, and most importantly the love we have been given to share with family and friends but also to strangers so that they too can feel and spread your heart and hand. As we continue to celebrate with those that dwell with us may we count on you to protect the ones that you have taken home and will you ease the hurt for those of us who still mourn until we are all reunited in your kingdom and together once more." Eliot gave a slight pause thinking about Nate who he knew was thinking about Sam and the many other losses he had suffered that continued to haunt him day after day. "May we please you even more tomorrow than we have been able to do today and may we be forgiven when we don't reach that goal. In Christs name we promise, plead, and pray. Amen." As everyone echoed that response Eliot made the sign of the cross bringing his closed hand to his mouth and sending a kiss above, it was a gesture that brought back painful memories but it also showed his dedication and love to a certain someone.

"That was beautiful." Ashlee praised as the family began passing dishes around the table.

"Thank you." Eliot had spoken from his heart, deep down he still liked to think there was a God and he knew that it was his fault his faith was shakey. As much as he would like to say God had turned his back on him he knew it was the other way around and that was where he and Nate were in the same boat, Were they skeptical or were they trying to punish themselves?

"Which book did you memorize that from?" Caroline asked, absent mindedly spooning green beans onto her plate.

"I didn't-"

"Pineapple?" Nate quickly offered seeing the heated color creeping on the back of the hitters neck signaling that he was losing his patience and with it his temper. Nate himself was annoyed with the woman, did she honestly think her son so daft that she couldn't even give him credit for a simple prayer?

"So Nate," Pete started up after he finished fixing Beccas plate. "Where do you know Eliot from? Are you one of the friends that he's going to be working with when he moves to Colorado?"

"Since when are you moving to Colorado?" Nate had turned completely in his chair forgetting everything else for the moment. How had Eliot not thought it relevant to tell him he had plans on moving across the country?

"I'm not." Could his day get any worse? Pete had once again opened his mouth at the worst moment and now he had the whole table paying attention to Nate who was acting like a lot more than a curious friend.

"Then why-"

"What Pete meant was if you were one of the friends that had offered him work." Aaron tried saving, he knew Pete didn't know but unintentionaly or not he had a feeling Eliot had just earned himself a spot in the doghouse. "You see we were talking about our jobs yesterday and Eliot had mentioned a few opportunities he had been presented with while in Colorado but he never said anything about moving."

"Well true but I think it's safe to assume he will move if he accepts the job." Pete was confused as to why Eliot was denying the same topic he had seemed eager about yesterday and why Nate had reacted so strangely to the news.

"So you're not happy with your current work?" It was meant to be a question but it left Nates mouth as more of an accusation.

"I'll figure all that out LATER when I talk to my boss but I don't think that is an appropriate topic for our current situation Nate." Eliot warned as he lightly pushed on Nates leg under the table silently asking him to turn back around in his chair, now was not the time or the place for that conversation.

"Right, later." Nate reminded himself more than anything else. He straightened himself out at the table reassuring himself that he would not currently be sitting here if Eliot really intended to just up and leave everything.

What their father said next caused Sarah to choke on her drink, Aaron to stab himself on the tongue with his fork, and Eliot to outright snort at the lie. "I never brought work home with me and I would appreciate it if you boys showed the same respect and courtesy." If that wasn't the biggest double standard.