Well I decided to let you all join in on the story. Now you all know what Joan is naming her baby. But you don�t know what Luke and Grace are naming their baby. I have a name but I might just change it. I would love to hear any suggestions from you, the readers, on what the baby�s name should be. For memory�s sake, they�re having a girl.
So everyone give me some suggestions that you think would be appropriate for Luke and Grace�s daughter. Then I will figure out which one I want to use! Thank you! Enjoy the next two chapters. Many thanks to Vanilla Bean (Diminished9) for once again being an awesome beta reader!
Title: Late
Author: Elizabeth
Rating: PG-13 or higher
Category: J/A, L/G
Summary: One way or another someone�s always late. The outcome could either be serious or lucky
Disclaimer: I own no one.
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The next couple of months flew by. The Girardi�s were busy getting ready for Matt�s arrival. Kevin had made the decision to move out and offered his room to his nephew. Everyone got to work turning Kevin�s room into a nursery. While they didn�t let Joan do any work, they let her of say in where the furniture went. They also had a surprise for Grace, whom had yet to see the new room.
Once the room was finished, they finally let Grace see it. When she walked in, she noticed the oak crib next to the door and on the far wall next to it was a small couch that would be used so Joan could feed the baby in private. The changing table was next to the closet and there was also another crib similar to the first one. Grace was amazed that they had done all of this.
�Wow. He�s going to love his new room. But why is there another crib in here?� she turned to Luke.
�It�s for our daughter.�
Grace raised an eyebrow. �You know I�m not moving in.�
�I know that! It�s for when you need to get away from the house.�
�Luke�� Grace shook her head as if to argue.
�Look I know you still get scared and you still have to deal with your mom�s drinking. And your dad�s still getting used to the baby. I wanted to give you a place to go when you needed to get away.�
Grace put a hand on her stomach. �It�s just�I�m getting used to everything. Knowing that my life is changing and also knowing that I have to do this without my parents help. It�s a little overwhelming.�
Luke went over to Matt�s crib and looked inside. �I had a dream last night.�
Grace looked at him.
�We were at the park. The place where we found out we had a mutual hatred for �Celebration�� Grace laughed. �We were sitting under a tree and our daughter was running around just having fun. She had your hair and your smile.�
�Nothing of you?�
Luke rolled his eyes. �She had my intelligence.�
�Oh really?�
�Yes, she knew mommy was the most beautiful person she ever saw.�
Grace just smirked and went over to look at the mobile. She knew just by looking at it that Adam had made it. He had also made one for Matt.
�Then Adam, Joan and Matthew arrived. Our daughter took Matthew by the hand and they went to play ball. Adam and Joan joined us and we bantered back and forth like we do now. I happened to glance over at Matthew and the way he smiled when he looked at me, I knew I had come to love him.�
�Luke�did you tell Girardi?�
�The minute she woke up. Then she proceeded to cry to which Matt gave a hard kick when I put a hand to her stomach. I think that was in retaliation.�
Grace laughed. �I doubt it but stranger things have happened.�
Luke smiled and went to kiss her. They pulled away after a few moments.
�Thanks for everything. You know trying with Joan and helping out with me. I know it must be tough for you.�
�Yeah. But you guys are worth it.� Luke said.
Will walked in and stopped seeing the room and Grace. Grace, upon seeing him, went over to the closet to check out the baby clothes. Luke looked at his father expectantly..
�Looks good.�
�Thanks dad.� Luke said softly.
�Um�your mom asked me to tell you to take the trash out.�
�Okay.�
Will walked away. Luke went over to Matt�s crib and put his hands on the bars.
�He still hasn�t said anything?� Grace asked turning to look at him.
�No. It�s like I�m invisible�again. He only talks to me when he needs to. It�s the same for Joan. He doesn�t contribute to anything.�
�This is also why you haven�t been holding up the 4.0 GPA. Not just because of Girardi and me�your dad.�
Luke looked at her. He didn�t really want to admit she was right. His grades had been going down slightly and everyone was concerned but Luke tried to convince them that he would pull them back up. While his teachers and family believed him, Grace was the only one who couldn�t be convinced.
�I don�t know what to do anymore, Grace. I mean your dad talks to me more than my own father. Don�t get me wrong, your dad has given me good advice about what to do��
�But it�s better from your own. I know.�
�I just don�t want Matt or our daughter to grow up knowing their grandfather doesn�t love them.�
�How do you think Matt will feel when he finds out you had trouble coming to terms with him being here?�
Luke didn�t say anything. He picked up the little beanie baby that was sitting on the blanket.
�Finals are coming up quickly Luke. You need to start getting your act together.�
�How can I study when I can�t stop thinking about everything else?�
�Luke, you know this stuff. I know you do. You�ve just been letting everything else get in the way. So why don�t you forget about the past few months for the next few weeks and concentrate on what you know.� Grace looked around the room. �I mean what�s going on right now�it shouldn�t be getting in your way. So work harder. I shouldn�t have to tell you that.�
Luke looked at her. �You think I can do this?�
�I know you can do this. Just let go of the past and focus on now.� She pursed her lips. �I need fruit.� She looked at him before leaving the room.
Luke watched her leave and thought about what she had said. He went into his room and grabbed his school stuff. He looked everything over and sighed.
�She�s right. I know this stuff. I can�t let what happened control me anymore.� He got to work.