C.C.: Honestly you can't expect me to wanna stay in a locked apartment all day I need some people interaction I thrive on socialization
Me -Grace-: well as long as you're here C.C. I have some good news to share with you I am officially calling Fran Mom I still can't get over saying that it makes me so happy
Fran: I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing it. oh angel I am so glad that you have started calling me Mom
I started sniffling a little. Fran hasn't called me Angel since I was six, maybe even seven. Fran notices right away and asked me what's wrong
Me -Grace-: nothings wrong it's just you haven't called me angel since I was little I didn't realize how much I missed it
Fran: well if it makes you feel better I can start calling you Angel again
Me -Grace-: well I don't think I want you calling me it all the time it could get rather repetitive and boring. Why don't we just save it for special occasions like my birthday or whatever else if it slips out it slips out.
C.C.: Oh nanny Fine , how exciting. you're officially her mother. I just hope that my child will love me as much as Grace,Jonah, and Eve love you.
Niels: don't worry all children love dogs
C.C.: by the way Niels I have a headache tonight
Niles and C.C. still have their unusual loving banter they wouldn't be themselves without it but it's all done in joking and love. Eventually we all finish dinner and I just am not very much in the mood for dessert so I decided to retire for the night. Today has been a whirlwind all in a good way but I can tell dad still has something to discuss with me I hear a knock on my door.
Grace:come in
My dad steps in and asks if he can take a seat of course I oblige.
Maxwell: Grace, as happy as I am that you're now calling Fran mom, there is something I wish to discuss with you.
Grace: It sounds like I'm in trouble and if I am dad can you please continue with this conversation in the morning. Today went so well I don't want anything to ruin it.
Maxwell: you're not in trouble sweetheart it's just why have you never told me about your mother before? I mean your biological mother I would've told you anything you want to know about her.
Grace: I felt bad Maggie and Brighton remember her perfectly and they remind you so much of her. I want you to really think about it. I don't look anything like my mom. I look more like Fran than I do my own biological mother who gave birth to me.
Maxwell: Well as true as that might be my dear you have your mother's personality, her charisma, and passion for creativity. What you lack in appearance is what you gain in your heart.
Grace: Really!? I love that. You think Fran loves that you know my personality since it's like my mothers.
Maxwell: Grace I married Fran because I loved the way she loves you and your siblings. She loves every aspect of you and me. don't tell your brother and sister this the older ones but I think Fran loves you the best.
Grace: oh I know that Brighton was too difficult for Fran to figure everything out with. I was an easy one. All Fran had to do was make sure I grew up right. Thanks Dad I feel a lot better now that we talked about it. I'm just so happy that I'm now calling Fran Mom. I haven't felt this happy in a long time.
Maxwell: I'm feeling a lot better too sweetheart. Now get some sleep and you still have rehearsal in the morning. I will be driving you around tomorrow since it's my day off. There's nothing I love more than spending time with my little girl.
Grace: hey not fair I lost that title when Eve was born and I'm thankful for that.
Maxwell: If Maggie will always be my little girl, so will you,now please get some sleep.
Dad leaves my room shortly after and I lay down to sleep. I can't believe I have my mothers personality. I hope that doesn't ruin it for Fran and I. but then I thought I could always give Fran a gift that means something from the heart. but I don't wanna buy anything that's just material. but then I thought about the poem I wrote for her when I was six. I'll give it to her tomorrow morning. It's always really special and I have kept it all these years. I can't stop thinking about how my mom now will feel. I need to talk to both Dad and Mom right now. I run to their room but stop just outside the door as I can hear them talking.
Fran: Oh Max , I have waited so long to be called mom. Yes Brighton did call me it for a while but just coming from a younger child is so special I can't wait till Eve and Jonah can say it.
Oh I see how it is. I don't matter to her. All she wanted was to hear Mom from a younger child and I am younger than Brighton. She doesn't deserve the poem. I decided to really go to sleep now. The next morning I woke up still really upset with Fran. What she said last night has really rattled me. That's just the thing, she's still Fran with me. This morning I know in my heart I should just forgive her and call her mom but I can't bring myself to do it. I make my way into the kitchen.
Fran: Good morning sweetheart help yourself to breakfast. How did you sleep?
Me -Grace-: just fine thank you Fran for asking. I think I'm gonna take this upstairs if you'll excuse me.
Okay I'll admit it I was a little cold towards her but you guys heard her last night she said she just wanted to hear it from a younger child. I can't let her get away with that. another knock comes on my door.
Me -Grace-: Who is it?
Fran: Honey, it's Mom, may I come in?
Me -Grace-: you are not my mother Sarah was my mother. you are Fran...Fran fine Sheffield. you're only my mother on a technicality.
I can tell I hurt her because for once she's quiet. After five minutes of silence I look out my door to see no one standing there. whatever I know Fran She'll get over it.
Maxwell: Grace, I would like to speak with you. Can you please come down to my office?
Oh no, his office that's where he really likes to give us serious talks and lectures. I must've really hurt Fran earlier. I finally mustered up the courage to actually walk into the office.
Me -Grace-: What is it, daddy?
Maxwell: Grace it was cute when you were six but now you're 12 and it's getting a bit old you calling me daddy. Pretty soon Eve will be the little girl calling me daddy.
Me -Grace-:you too,huh?
Maxwell: Me too what?
Me-Grace-: I heard you and Fran talking last night and how good it was to hear a younger child actually calling you mom and daddy. or dad even I don't care anymore. I was going to give Fran the poem I wrote her when I was six or seven or however old I was but after that she didn't deserve it. She doesn't love me, she just wanted to hear a younger child say Mom. and now you can't wait for Eve to call you daddy.
Maxwell: Grace, you know none of that is true. You really hurt Fran's feelings earlier.
Me-Grace-: so? she didn't seem to care about my feelings when she was so gung ho on eve and Jonah being able to say mama.
Maxwell: Grace she didn't know you were standing at the door. That is not her fault. you know she didn't mean it in that way you're just letting your suppressed emotions get the best of you. I expect you to apologize to your mother.
Me -Grace-: she is not my mother! Sarah Sheffield is/was my mother.
Maxwell: Grace Sheffield Fran is your mom. She adopted you out of the goodness of her heart because she loves you. you are going to apologize and mean it or so help me you will be punished big time.
Me -Grace-: then I guess you'll have to punish me
Maxwell: Grace I know you did not mean that but I will respect your wishes and punish you. you are grounded for a month, no friends, no electronics. when school starts up again you come right home after. I'm pulling you out of the production of your school.
I didn't see that coming
Me -Grace-: dad! you can't do that. This is finally my first lead role. If you take me out my understudy will have to go on and I won't get another chance to be the lead.
Maxwell: Well you should've thought of that before. Now up to your room your punishment starts now.
I can't believe I let myself get grounded. I never stay this mad. I might be risking my freedom from this point but I go find Fran. I need to apologize and make this right not just because I really want the lead in my school play but maybe I am being a little unreasonable. I finally find Fran in her and dad's bedroom.
Me -Grace-: oh there you are. Can we please talk for a minute?
Fran: I always make time to talk to anybody you know that. come on in and sit next to me.
I'm slowly walk in. I really do feel bad that I hurt Fran earlier. That's why I'm doing what I have to do. like I've been saying this whole time she's the only mother I've ever known.
Me -Grace-: Fran I am super sorry that I hurt you earlier like I've told you it's never my intention. I was just so mad about what you said last night.
Fran: Last night?
Me -Grace-: I heard you and Dad talking. I heard what you said about a younger child saying Mom and for some reason it really hurt me and Rattled me to my core. I was just mad that you still saw me as a little kid and not your real daughter. you just can't wait for Jonah and or Eve to say it. so I thought I didn't matter to you.
Fran: Oh Grace,nothing could be further from the truth. Yes I can't wait until Jonah and Eve start talking but it's proven science that they usually say dada before they're even close to saying mama. You calling me Mom is the best thing I've ever heard, music to my ears.
Me -Grace-: again Fran I'm really sorry that I hurt you. I never heard you be so silent.
Fran: Oh believe me honey I was anything but silent. As soon as I got to my bedroom I just flopped on the bed and nasal cried it all out. If you don't believe me, ask your father.
Me -Grace-: yeah about that,Dad and I are not on the best terms right now. We got into a bit of a heated argument and he grounded me and banned me from doing the play. Fran, I can't miss this play. It's my first time getting a lead role. If I can't go on, my understudy will have to take on my part. I'll never get a lead role again, it's a rule.
Fran:Don't worry sweetie I'll take care of everything.
Me -Grace-:thanks mom I really do love you...oh wait here I have something for you
I run to my room and grab the poem kept in my 'treasure chest'. I ran back to mom.
Me -Grace-:I want to give you the poem I wrote about you when I was younger. I hope you really like it.
Fran:Oh Angel, I love it. You wrote it and it came from your heart.
I smile up at her.
Me -Grace-: Do you know what Dad told me last night before he went to bed?
Fran: what?
Me -Grace-: I was so upset because Maggie and Brighton remember so much of our biological mother. they look just like her so therefore they remind Dad of her. If I'm being honest I don't look anything like her. I look more like you than I do my own mother but my father said I have her personality , charisma, and her creativity and I love that. In my soul I know sometimes that's more than enough that dad can be reminiscent of her. even more so than looks. Also I asked him if you love that part of me? I hope you do.
Fran: Sweetie,me and your father talked over so many things. One of the first things I wanted to know was about your biological mother Sarah. Maxwell told me all about her how much he loves her, how much she loves you three kids, and how she visited him the night before we got married, I don't know what that was all about. but believe me I love every part of you. your brother, your sister, your baby brother and baby sister your father. even though I didn't know her, your biological mother Sarah.
Me -Grace-: that's great to know Mom. I really really am sorry, I don't know what came over me.
Fran: It's all a part of growing up. You become a teenager and pretty soon you hate your mom, your dad, you hate your siblings and in your case you'll even hate your butler.
Me -Grace-: but I don't want to hate everybody. That's like every month for a week, how can I fix it?
Fran: Unfortunately there is no way to fix your attitude, just try to be yourself within 3 to 4 days you should be back to normal.
Pretty soon Mom and I finished our conversation. She goes to talk to Dad. He was a little mad that I didn't follow his orders but he's accepting my apology and won't be pulling me out of the play but I have to carry out the rest of my punishment for hurting Mom earlier. lunch has rolled around and I couldn't be more happy that this whole mess is over. Mom assured me there will be plenty more though. Oh joy!
Me-Grace-: I know I keep apologizing but I just feel so bad about it. there's gotta be something I can do to make it up to all of you.
Maxwell: As a matter of fact there is something, your mother and I want to go out for a date night but by that time your grandma Sylvia will be back in New York we need someone to watch the twins that's where you come in.
Me-Grace-: whenever you need me I'll be there. I'll be the best babysitter/big sister ever.
Maxwell: A week from this Saturday
Me-Grace-:deal
The next week goes by very quickly too quickly but I know I can take care of John and Eve all by myself. Niles will be here just for monitoring purposes. Mom comes downstairs all dressed for her date night.
Me-Grace-: as usual Mom you look absolutely beautiful I'm sure Dad will look handsome. Mom,do you really think I'm ready to babysit my brother and sister alone?
Fran: I can guarantee that your father wouldn't give you this as a way to repay us if you didn't think you could do it. Plus Niles was nice enough to offer his services if you get into a little trouble, but I have no doubt in my mind that you can do anything you set your mind to.
Dad comes downstairs
Me-Grace-: I was right, dad looks so handsome. I wanna thank you two for giving me this opportunity to repay you I know that I won't always get the chance but this whole thing I really need to fix.
Maxwell: just remember Grace even if you get in trouble we still love you the same we always had and that will never change. well unless you kill one of us but I have a feeling that would never happen.
I look at my parents mischievously
Me-Grace-: oh you have no idea how complicated I can be. In all seriousness though I love you guys too and that will never change. right now though the only love that matters is between the two of you so go enjoy your date night like you said I can do this.
Mom and dad leave me and Niles with Jonah and Eve. They're pretty easy to take care of all I had to do was feed them dinner and then put them down for bed but like my dad said earlier in the week they cry every two hours. You just have to know how to take care of babies. Niles was plenty of help but there's one thing even he can't help me with that is... Setting up a romantic evening for Dad and Mom and they get home. Niels could help me with it but it's a surprise that he doesn't even know about it. I sneak into my parents room with a bucket of rose petals. I'm scattered them all around the room and on the bed and made a heart on the bed I even scattered some into the bathroom. I take my mom's favorite clone that my dad wears and take the perfume that my dad loves on Mom and spritz it all over the room to mix their scents. the last thing to do is the light a few candles and wait for them to return home. This will be the most amazing surprise ever. I wait in my parents room until they get home so I can monitor the candles in between the few minutes I have checked on Jonah and Eve they're perfectly fine. Niels told me about half an hour ago he was going home and I told him that was fine that I can handle Jonah and Eve for 30 more minutes alone until my parents get home. finally my parents walk into the bedroom and see me waiting in the romantic setting.
Fran: Angel, what is all this?
Me-Grace-: your date night isn't over yet enjoy this romantic setting that I prepared for you two. I will take care of Jonah and Eve. You know I'll be perfectly fine. just enjoy your date night just because your home doesn't mean it has to end.
I leave the room and let my parents talk. Niels has taught me well,I listen from outside the door.
Maxwell: She's really growing up, isn't she?
Fran: Yes she is. max maybe it's time to give her more responsibility for the grown-up she claims to be. why don't we skip the whole punishment thing and if she fails we re-punish her if she behaves and succeeds then it won't matter.
Maxwell: darling you know as well as I do that if we cancel this whole thing she will never learn. you're too soft on them,I've already lifted on the other part. I'm not lifting the first.
This doesn't feel right listen to their conversation. I just go check on Jonah and Eve and surprisingly they're still sleeping soundly. I decided to retire to my bedroom for the night, taking Eve and Jonah's baby monitor with me. And not surprisingly eve wakes me up two hours later meaning she wants a bottle that in turn wakes up Jonah and he needs a bottle. I bring them the bottles I prepared prior. Once they're back asleep I go check on mom and dad it's been a few hours since I fell asleep I wonder if they're still talking or doing other things I'd rather not mention at my age, especially about my parents. I hear moaning coming from mom and dads bedroom yep just as I expected they're doing something else than talking. the last thing I hear before returning back to my bedroom is Mom moaning my dad's name. EW!
Fran:Oh Maxwell!
I go to bed I got through the rest of the night either mom or dad must've come in sometime during the night and gotten back the baby monitor because it's s not where I left it and I looked all over for it. I decided to go down to the kitchen to get some breakfast. If I hurry I should be able to catch the end. I make my way into the dining room to find Niles at his serving spot and mom still eating.
Grace: Good morning Mom. How did you and Daddy sleep last night?
Fran:like heaven...Grace, what you did for your father and I last night was...beautiful, thank you.
Grace:you're welcome. Did dad enjoy it?
Fran:yep, I just enhanced it more
Grace:too much info Mom...that's what Val is for. Where is Dad?
Fran:he had to go to the studio,is there something you need that I can do?
Grace:i just wanted to ask if Xena can stay over tonight? she's coming over to run lines anyway.
Fran:of course sweetheart we love Xena's company...oh wait...your father said no friends.
Grace:That's why I wanted to ask him. Does he have his phone on him?
Fran:He should...don't be offended if he doesn't answer though he's a busy man
Grace:but he always calls back
I call Dad and luckily this time he answers
Maxwell:What is it Grace,I'm very busy
As you can see nothings changed
Grace:Daddy I know you said no friends but Xena and I really need to rehearse. I was hoping you would let her come to me and sleepover tonight?
Maxwell:Grace you know the conditions of your punishment