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.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
For the next three weeks, Joan, Adam, Luke, and Grace prepared for finals. They all worked hard so they could finish up school. They also noticed Luke was working and studying harder than he had been before.
By the end of the third week, Luke was exhausted after all of the studying he had gone through. Grace and Joan were also tired, not just from studying, but also from their pregnancies. Joan�s stomach was bulging so much she couldn�t walk down the stairs without help and Grace was experiencing leg cramps.
Finally it was time for finals. Everyone was exhausted from studying but excited because they were nearly done with the year. When it was time for their last finals together, Adam, Grace, Joan and Luke met up outside the classroom.
�Luke. You can do this. I have faith in you.� Joan said.
He smiled slightly. �Thanks.�
�And remember what I said. Just focus on now.� Grace said.
Luke gave her a smile. They all went inside to begin the final.
During their final, Grace, Joan, and Adam would occasionally look at Luke to see how he was doing. They either saw him writing furiously, scratching the back of his neck, or sitting there not moving. Adam was finished first so he took his test up.
�Good job, Adam.�
�Thanks. Could I use the rest room?�
�Go ahead.�
Adam nearly sprinted out of the room. Grace finished next and took her test up.
�Good job, Ms. Polk.�
Grace nodded and went to sit down.
Joan was next and she slowly got up before taking her test up.
�The baby�s sitting on my bladder may I go to the bathroom?�
�Go.�
Joan smiled and gave Luke the thumbs up before leaving the classroom. She came back a while later and saw Luke was still working. Fifteen minutes later, Luke finally took his test up. Ms. Lishak gave him a reassuring smile and Luke went back to his seat. He looked at his friends and smiled. They smiled back.
After they were done with their finals for the week, Joan, Adam, and Grace had to go make sure that they were ready for the graduation the next day. Once that was finished, they were going to see how Luke did on his finals.
Joan had been looking for Adam when she found Grace at her locker taking out items one by one.
�You don�t have to do that yet, you know?�
�Price does locker checks once in a while. I refuse to let him see anything pertaining to Matt or my baby.�
Joan nodded. �You know Luke is going to put their pictures in his locker.�
Grace looked at her as if she had just realized that. �Crap. No stopping him?�
�Sorry Grace.�
�No. I can do this. What�s that thing I do with my tongue that makes Luke turn into oatmeal?� Grace walked away quickly.
Joan turned towards her with a disgusted look. �More than I needed to know about you and my brother, Grace!�
Joan turned and saw Adam. �Hey!�
�Hey. So�this is it.�
�Yep. Last day. It seems like only yesterday we met.� Joan grinned.
�Yeah. Life got a little more interesting.�
Joan chuckled and Adam kissed her. He gave her a hug before looking around.
�Where�s Grace?�
�Oh�trying to convince Luke not to put photos of Matt and their future child in his locker next year.�
�Oh�� he noticed the look on Joan�s face. �What?�
�Nothing.� She grinned. �Let�s get to class.�
During lunch, the group went to the office to make sure they were prepared for graduation. It happened that they had to speak to Price, whom none had spoken to since the incident with Grace and the reminder that their lives were changed due to hers and Joan�s pregnancy.
�Haven�t seen you three in a while.� Price said.
�Nope. Busy getting ready for the babies.� Joan said.
He nodded. �Well everything seems to be in order. Good luck.�
�Now you say that.� Grace said.
Joan put a hand on Grace�s forearm. �Have a nice life, Mr. Price.� She went to leave with Adam. Grace followed after them.
�Hey can�t I just say one thing?�
�You want to get out of here, don�t you Grace?� Adam asked.
�Yes. Don�t even start with me, Rove.� Grace shot him a look.
�Sorry.�
�Okay, okay. We�re going to check up on Luke now.� Joan said.
Once Adam, Joan, and Grace got their own results, they waited for Luke near the front of the school. He finally walked over to them with a sad look on his face.
�Oh no.� Joan groaned.
�Luke�� Grace started.
�Dang, all that studying.� Adam shook his head.
Luke looked at each of them and then he grinned. �I aced them.�
�What?� Adam asked incredulously. Joan and Grace�s eyes widened.
�All of them! I aced the tests!�
�Oh my God Luke!� Joan hugged him. �That�s awesome!�
�I can�t believe you made us think that you didn�t do too good!� Grace said annoyed but still grinning.
�I�m sorry but I did it! Thanks guys I couldn�t have done it without your support.�
�We knew you could do it, Luke.� Joan said.
�Thanks.�
Adam patted him on the shoulder. Grace, after looking around, gave Luke a kiss on the cheek. Luke blushed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On Saturday, Joan stood in her room in her cap and gown. She couldn�t believe after all this time she was graduating. She looked in the mirror and fixed her cap. She put her hands on her belly and smiled. �Hey. Today�s important for mommy so try not to make an appearance, all right? But if you do want to come out and allow mommy to see her feet again, that would be just fine with me.�
She heard a knock and turned to see Adam. �Hey.�
�Hey. You look good.�
�I don�t look like a beached whale?�
Adam chuckled and walked over. �No. You look wonderful. So are you excited?�
�Very. I�m just afraid I�ll trip on my robe or fall down.�
�You won�t fall down or trip. You�ll be fine.�
�Thanks for having so much faith in me.� Joan chuckled and kissed him. She pulled away. �You know�these past nine months have been terrifying, terrific, amazing�I don�t know how I would have gone through it without you.�
�You won�t ever have to. I�m here until the end.�
Joan smiled and hugged him. Adam rubbed her back and then looked at her. He kissed her and then looked at his watch.
�Well let�s get this show on the road.� Adam took her hand and led her downstairs. Joan smiled seeing Adam�s father waiting by the door.
�Hey Mr. Rove, how are you?�
�I�m doing fine, Joan. How are you?�
�I�m good. Kind of nervous.�
�That�s normal.�
Helen walked downstairs and smiled. �Mr. Rove, how are you? Can I get you anything?�
�No thanks. You know it�s weird, our kids are graduating.�
�I know. Seems like only yesterday they were learning how to use the potty.�
�Mom!� Joan cried out as Adam looked at his dad fearfully.
�Dad!�
�I didn�t say a word!�
Kevin showed up from the lift and Joan smiled.
�Hey.�
�Hey. Luke said he�d be right down, Grace sent him an IM.�
�Okay.� Joan looked at Helen. �Dad�s coming right?�
Helen looked at her daughter as a thought went through her mind.
If you don�t show up for your own daughter�s graduation, she�ll never forgive you.
Helen smiled. �Yes, he�s coming.�
Joan sighed in relief. �Good.�
Luke came downstairs after a few minutes. He looked troubled.
�Okay, we�re ready.�
Joan and Adam knew what the look on his face meant. Once Helen had gone to get the car ready and Kevin went to in his car, Joan and Adam pulled Luke aside.
�Is Grace all right?�
�Her mom got really drunk last night and is still dealing with a hangover. Grace is upset.�
Joan sighed. �She was fine for her Bat Mitzvah, what happened?�
�I have no clue.�
�Well then I guess we better hope she doesn�t make a fool of herself or Grace.� Adam said.
�I know she�s trying but this is important to Grace. She�s finally getting out of high school.�
�So are we.�
Will walked downstairs and Luke, Adam, and Joan looked at him. Will looked at Joan and gave her a small smile. He looked at Luke blankly. Luke just stared at him.
�Hey kids. Ready?�
�Yep.� Luke said. �Well let�s get go.�
�Yeah.� Adam said.
They locked the door and went to their respective vehicles. Kevin was taking Luke, Carl had Adam, and Joan was with her parents.
When they got there, Joan and Adam went to find Grace. They found her in the auditorium sitting on a chair resting a hand on her stomach.
�Hey.�
�Hey. Don�t make me get up. My legs hurt, my back hurts, my feet hurt�I am going to kill Luke for doing this to me.�
�It�s your fault too.� Joan said. �And besides, I�m farther along than you. I feel like I�m about ready to pop!�
�Don�t remind me.� Grace sighed. She rubbed her forehead. Joan looked at Adam and nodded. She looked back at her friend.
�Grace, are you all right?�
�Yeah I�m fine. If my mom pulled through for my Bat Mitzvah, she can do it now right?�
�Yeah sure.� Adam said. Joan nodded in agreement.
�Okay let�s get this show on the road. Teachers and principles smiling at you, congratulating you on your achievement when all they�ve ever done is make your lives miserable. They only give you the certificate so they feel better about themselves, you know that right?� Grace said as Joan and Adam helped her stand up.
�Um�yeah.� Joan said.
�I knew that.� Adam said trying to humor her. He couldn�t help but let out a laugh.
�Dude, I might be pregnant but I can still take you.�
Joan and Adam smiled nervously.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Helen, Will, Kevin, Luke, and Carl Rove found some seats and they went to sit down. Kevin, of course, was in the aisle because of the wheelchair. Luke looked around to see if he could find Rabbi and Mrs. Polanski. He finally spotted them a couple of rows ahead.
�I�ll be right back.� He said to his mom. She nodded and he got up and went over to them.
�Hi Rabbi Polanski. Mrs. Polanski.�
�Luke, it�s so wonderful to see you. So handsome.� Sarah said.
�Um thanks. Can you believe Grace is graduating?�
�She always has been a smart girl. Rebellious but talented.�
�Yeah.�
Rabbi Polanski took a moment to look at Luke. This was the boy who had turned his daughter into a woman. Luke felt like a lab mouse underneath his stare. �I�m counting on you to take care of her and my granddaughter.�
Luke nodded. �I will. You can count on it. I better go back.�
�Okay. We�ll see you for embarrassing pictures.�
Luke chuckled and shook his hand and glanced at Grace�s mother before going back to his seat.
Luke looked at his father, noticing that he was rolling up the program and looking around uncomfortably. Luke sighed and Kevin looked at them. He gave Luke the okay sign and Luke returned it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The ceremony started and all of the seniors gathered on the stage. On a big screen they were showing pictures of the seniors as babies. Luke smirked as they went through alphabetically knowing that Grace never submitted a photo. She had fussed about how it was just a way to embarrass kids one last time before they could hold it against the parents. They saw Joan�s picture of course and they saw an older picture of Grace before going down the line where they saw Adam.
The first speaker was up and while this was going on, Luke was watching Adam, Joan and Grace. Joan was concentrating on her family, Adam seemed to be in his own little world, and Grace was twirling a strand of her hair.
Soon each person was called up to get his or her diploma. When Joan was called, she walked across the stage slowly and shook the Principle�s hand as she took the diploma. She gave her family a wave and sat down. When Grace was called, she carefully walked across the stage and took her diploma. She put her hand over her mouth and Luke was afraid she was going to throw up. But when she went to shake Price�s hand, everyone saw him give her a disgusted look. Grace grinned, took her diploma, and walked away. Price wiped his hand on his pants and Luke laughed as he realized exactly what Grace had done. Joan and Adam were applauding as well as the other students. When Adam got up to get his diploma, Price checked his hand before shaking it.
After the ceremony, Luke met up with Grace. �That was quite a performance.�
�What a way to go.� Grace smirked
�And how are you going to get out of it if he gets you in trouble?�
�I�ll just play it off as an accident.� Grace grinned.
�That�s my girl.�
�Gracie!� they heard her mother call. Grace turned and smiled.
�Hey mom.�
�Honey you were so wonderful up there. I�m so proud of you.�
�Thanks mom. Are you��
�I�m fine. I�m fine. Hi Luke.�
�Hi. Where�s uh��
�Oh he�s talking to your mom.�
�Okay.� Luke nodded.
�Hey mom, could I talk to Luke alone?�
�Sure honey. I�m going to join your father.�
Grace smiled slightly. Once her mom left, she looked at Luke.
�So how was your father?�
�He didn�t really say anything. He looked proud of Joan but he seemed uncomfortable.�
�I thought he�d be better by now.� Grace said.
�So did I.�
Joan walked over. �Hey! Grace that was quite a performance.�
�Thanks. I�m sure I�ll face his wrath later but I�m basking in the glory right now.�
Joan and Luke just shook their heads.
Adam came over followed by the rest of the family. �Joan, you�re mom is requesting pictures.�
�Oh okay. Grace?�
Grace groaned. �It�s just another way to embarrass us in front of our children.�
Joan rolled her eyes and pulled Grace and Adam over to her. They stood together and smiled for pictures. Grace left the picture so Joan and Adam could have a couple of pictures together. Then she was forced to take a picture with Luke and her parents.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the graduation party at Joan�s house, Grace requested that the alcohol be hidden. Afterwards she went upstairs to rest. Luke stayed downstairs to make sure no one tried to pull out the embarrassing photos so they couldn�t try to predict whom his daughter would look like. Joan and Adam were spending some time together.
Upstairs Grace went on Luke�s computer to see if he had any games. She searched through his archives and then saw a folder with the name �Jerry Baker.� Grace�s stomach dropped. Why did Luke have a folder with his name on it?
Grace sighed and opened the folder. She found a list of links and WORD documents. She opened one document from the day after she had been attacked.
�How dare he? How dare he touch her! How dare he try to violate her! I hate him more than words can describe! It wasn�t enough he destroyed my sister, and then he tried to destroy the person I love more than anything. And she�s pregnant. He knocked her around and almost killed my baby.�
Grace bit her lip and she closed the document. She opened each one to see what Luke was thinking. Seeing his thoughts on the screen showed her how his thought process had been working. She opened a link and came face to face with his photo. Grace let out a shriek and backed away from the computer. She closed her eyes and reached over to turn off the monitor.
�Grace?� Luke called.
Grace just stood at her spot. Luke came in and he saw her standing there, frozen. He looked at his computer and saw the monitor was turned off. He went over to her.
�Grace?�
�Why do you have those? Why do you have those links on your computer?�
�It was when I was angry. I wanted to know what his face looked like in case he never went to jail.� He said after a moment.
�You know Joan could have seen those and she would have freaked out more than I am now!� Grace put a hand to her forehead. �Matt�s going to be here any day now. I don�t want that to be the first question in my mind. Are those his eyes that he has?� Grace stormed out of the room.
Luke watched her go, feeling tremendous guilt for what he had unknowingly put her through just now. Luke looked at his computer, imagining the open document in his mind. He sat down and turned on the monitor. He closed the link and pulled up the folder. He deleted each of the links but kept the WORD documents in there. Grace watched him from the door.
�Thanks.� She said.
Luke looked at her. He hadn�t seen her come in. �I�m sorry you saw those.�
Grace nodded and left the room. Luke turned off the computer. He went downstairs and saw Grace sitting on the couch talking to Adam. He stood on the stairs thinking of the past nine months. Everything that happened on the steps he was standing on had led to where his family and friends were now. He sat down on the steps and let out a sigh. Joan walked over and smiled.
�Hey.�
�Hey.�
�Um�Grace just hugged me. What was that about?� Joan asked.
Luke looked at his sister. He wanted to tell her. He really did. But he knew she wasn�t ready and besides, he had already gotten rid of any evidence he had seen those photos.
�She�s just in the happy stage of the pregnancy.�
Joan looked like she didn�t believe him. Regardless of that, she just went back to the party.
Luke looked towards Grace and she gave him a small smile.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In the middle of the night, Joan woke up to a weird feeling. She felt a popping sensation and water suddenly gushed out onto her bed. Joan knew that her water had broken. She got up and went into her parent�s room.
�Mom?� Joan whispered.
�Hmm? Joan�� Helen turned on the light. �Sweetheart, what are you doing up?� she looked at the clock to see it was 3:45 in the morning.
�My water broke.� Joan was holding her stomach and looked like she was in pain.
�Are you having contractions?� Helen sat up.
�Yeah. Since right after the party.�
�Okay let�s get you to the hospital. Will, wake up! Joan�s in labor.�
�What? Oh�� Will sighed. �I�m up. Helen, take Joan downstairs. I�ll get the bag.�
�Okay.� Helen gave Will a smile and got up to get dressed.
She led Joan downstairs and then went up and knocked on Luke�s door.
�What?� she heard him call.
�Luke! Your sister is in labor get up!�
�Now?� she heard a groan.
�Yes, now!� Helen went down to Joan.
In a few minutes, Luke was dressed and ready. He met his mom downstairs where Joan was. Will soon came down.
�I�ll get the car started.� Will looked at his daughter. �You all right?�
Joan smiled. Luke looked at his father in amazement. Will nodded at them and went outside. Joan and Luke looked at each other.
�Luke get Joan to the car while I call the hospital.� Helen said breaking the moment.
�Okay mom. Come on Joan.� Luke happened to take her hand just as she got a contraction. He groaned when she squeezed hard. �Ow!�
�Just let this be a preview for when Grace goes into labor!�
Luke looked at her nervously as he got her out to the car.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the hospital, Luke went to the phone to call Adam. He didn�t want to wake Grace up just yet so he decided to call her later in the day to give her the news.
Joan got in a wheelchair and a nurse came over.
�Is the father around?�
�He�s on his way. Ow! Mom, how did you do this three times?�
�Um�let�s get you in the delivery room, Joan.� Helen urged the nurse on. Luke waited in the hall still holding Joan�s overnight bag.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Adam arrived at the hospital and asked where Joan�s room was before heading up. He saw Luke asleep on a chair and contemplated waking him up. He walked over and shook his shoulder.
�Luke, wake up. That cannot be comfortable.�
Luke opened his eyes and shook himself awake. �I�m good. Have you seen Joan?�
�I was just going to see her. You okay out here?�
�Yeah I�ll come see her in a bit.�
�Cool. Oh where�s your dad.�
�Oh probably in the bathroom.
Adam nodded and went into the room and smiled. �Hey Jane.�
�Hey.� Joan smiled. �This hurts so much.�
�I can imagine.� Adam took her hand.
�I don�t think so, Adam.� Joan said shaking her head. Adam kissed her and looked at Helen.
�What did the doctor say?�
�She�s three centimeters dilated. We have a long way to go.�
�Okay.� Adam looked at his girlfriend. �Hey. We made it.�
�Yeah. I guess we did.� Joan smiled and then groaned as a contraction hit.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke got two cups of water and went back over to Grace and Kevin. Will was sitting across from them. Luke had called Kevin and Grace once he had gotten rest and they came as fast as they could. Now they were just waiting for the baby to come.
Luke sat beside Grace and handed her a cup. She smiled gratefully.
�Thanks.�
�You�re welcome. Well�this will be us in two months.�
�Yep. I don�t think I want to see her have the baby.�
�Why not?� Luke looked at her.
�Because what�s coming out of her is going to be coming out of me in the same area. I�m freaked out just thinking about it.�
Luke nodded. �It�ll be fine.�
Grace looked towards the door.
Kevin wheeled himself back and forth in his spot. Luke watched him for a bit.
�What are you thinking?� Luke asked.
Kevin stopped and looked at his little brother. �I�m thinking�we�ve all come a long way. I�m proud of Joan. You especially, Luke.�
�Me? Why me?� Luke was surprised that Kevin was saying this to him.
�You took charge of things and you helped everyone. You�ll be a great uncle.�
Luke smiled. Kevin smiled back. Everyone was silent for a few minutes before Grace spoke.
�So�I wonder what he�ll look like.� Grace said.
�Hopefully he�s a tiny version of Joan.� Luke said.
Grace nodded. Kevin let out a small sigh. Luke looked at his father and noticed he was deep in thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night, nothing was going on with the labor and delivery so Helen sent Kevin, Luke, and Grace home. Kevin offered to take Luke and Grace home but they opted to walk.
They got to Grace�s house and stopped on the porch.
�Well here we are.� Grace said.
�Yeah. I better get home.�
�Um�wait. Luke?�
�What?�
�Um my dad�s working late and my mom is at one of her dinners. Could you�stay with me?� Grace asked almost in a whisper.
Luke nodded. �Sure.�
Grace nodded and smiled. She opened the door and they went inside. They went up to her room and Luke saw the bassinet they had picked out for the baby, once Grace actually found one she liked. It felt strange knowing that in just two months he was going to meet his daughter. Grace changed into some nightclothes and Luke slipped out of his clothes till he only had boxers on.
Grace crawled into bed and he joined her, putting an arm around her.
�You all right?�
�Yeah. I just don�t like being alone.�
Luke didn�t say anything. He listened to the sound of her breathing and felt the tiny movements of his child as Grace fell asleep.