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.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Everyone in the waiting room had heard the baby cry and were excited that they would finally meet the new addition to the family. Joan was especially excited because she would finally find out what the baby�s name was. Then they watched in shock and confusion as the doors opened and the doctor and nurses came out wheeling out a bed.
�Oh my God!� Joan exclaimed when she saw Grace, her eyes closed with an oxygen mask over her face. �Grace!� she called.
Adam looked freaked out and he took her hand and squeezed it. Luke walked out looking as white as a ghost. Helen went to him.
�Honey, what happened?�
�I�I don�t know. One minute she was fine then she said something didn�t feel right and she just�she just looked so tired. Mom, I�m scared. What if something�s really wrong?� He looked like someone had punched him in the gut.
�Oh sweetie�� Helen hugged him tightly then looked at him. �She�ll be all right. How�s the baby?�
�She�s fine. She�s perfect�just like her mother.� Luke closed his eyes as Helen hugged him again.
Joan walked over and put a hand on Luke�s shoulder. �Hey.�
�Hi.�
�Don�t worry, Grace is a tough girl. She�ll be fine.� Joan turned and spotted a familiar figure. �I�ll be right back.�
Joan walked down the hall and over to the old woman. �I already lost Judith and I am not going to loose Grace so if you�re trying to tell me something, I really don�t want to hear it!�
�You�re not going to loose Grace. But she is going to need your help for the next few months, possibly next few years.�
�What do you mean?� Joan stared at God confused.
�Just be there for her, and Luke.� God walked away.
Joan turned towards her family and shook her head before walking back over to them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A while later, Joan walked out of the bathroom after feeding Matt and saw the doctor talking to Grace�s father and Luke. She quickly made her way over to Kevin and Adam.
�What�s going on?� she whispered to Kevin.
�No idea.� He answered.
The doctor walked away and Luke let out a breath before walking over to them.
�Hey.�
�Hey. Is she all right?� Joan asked.
�Yeah, she�s fine. She had some tearing from the delivery. Her small size affected the delivery. But they fixed it and she�ll be okay.� He looked nervous.
�There�s more.� Adam said.
�Yeah�they said that um due to the damage caused, there�s a big chance that Grace might never have anymore kids.�
Adam and Joan�s eyes widened. Kevin shook his head. Helen put a hand to her forehead.
�Does she know?� Joan asked.
�No and I�m not too sure how I�m going to tell her.� Luke said softly.
�Luke�I�m sorry.� Kevin said.
�Not me you should be saying it too. I better go check on the baby.� Luke walked down the hall.
Joan shook her head. �Man. That really sucks.�
�Yeah. I think Grace talked about wanting at least two kids once.� Adam sat down and looked at Matt. Joan pursed her lips and looked at Grace�s father. She walked over to him.
�Rabbi Polanski, I wanted to talk to you about something��
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke went into Grace�s hospital room and saw that her eyes were closed. He walked over and sat beside her. Grace felt him and opened her eyes.
�Hey.�
�Hey. How�s the baby?�
�She�s fine. She weights 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Joan is permanently stuck to the window across from where she is.�
Grace smiled. Luke took her hand and squeezed it.
�I was really scared back there.�
�I�m fine, Luke. Just some tearing.�
Luke sighed. �It was worse than that.�
Grace frowned. �Is something wrong?�
�Um�Grace, the tearing caused a lot of damage. The doctor, she said that there�s a chance that um you might not be able to have anymore kids.�
Grace stared at him. �Well that sucks but�I�m good with what I have now.�
Luke smiled slightly. �Yeah.�
�So�I didn�t get a good look at our baby.�
Luke chuckled. �I have pictures.� He held up the Polaroid pictures he had taken. He held them up for Grace and she chuckled.
�Dude, I can totally see you in her.� She said.
�Really? I kind of see you.�
�What?� Grace looked at him.
�Yeah. She has your eyes and your nose.�
Grace shook her head. �Well�I can kind of see that.�
Luke looked at her and smiled. �Grace?�
�Hmm?�
�I�m here for you and our daughter. I�ll help you with everything.�
�Thanks.� Grace said softly.
Luke kissed her softly on the mouth. The door opened and Joan sighed.
�Okay you two, quit it, this is how the baby in the nursery came to be.�
Luke and Grace gave her looks. Joan walked in and smiled.
�Hey Grace. How are you feeling?�
�Um�sore. I want to get out of here.�
�Grace, you just had major surgery. You need to rest.�
Grace groaned. �Great, you�re going to be watching me like a hawk now!�
Joan smiled slightly. �Then you won�t like my next suggestion.�
Grace looked at Joan. �What?�
�Well�I talked to your dad and my parents. Since Luke is going to be starting school soon and you still need time to heal and get better, I thought you�d like to stay with us for a few months. I�m home half the day so I can help with you and Sierra, as well as taking care of Matt.�
�Girardi, that�s a really great offer but no.� Grace said. �I don�t want people doing everything for me. Besides I�m fine at home.�
�Grace. Hi. You�re mom�I don�t want to get you mad but she hurt you. You can�t stay in the house with her while you�re recovering with a baby. You need help. We already have a great nursery and clothes for her. All we have to do is get you settled.�
Grace looked at Luke. �You agree with her, don�t you?�
Luke nodded. �It�s best for you and the baby.�
Grace sighed. �Guess I�m not getting out of this.�
�Nope.� Luke and Joan said in unison.
�All right! Fine! I�ll stay.�
�Thanks Grace.� Luke grinned.
�Oh hey�I like her name by the way.� Joan smiled.
Grace smiled. �Thanks.�
�Yeah. Sierra sounds like a name you�d pick, Grace.� Joan shook her head.
Grace rolled her eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After a few days in the hospital, Grace was allowed to go home. Joan took Sierra inside while Adam had Grace�s bags. Luke was helping Grace walk inside the house
�You know I can get in fine myself right?� Grace asked.
�Yeah but I�m not taking my chances.� He said indignantly.
Grace was surprised at how attentive he was being towards her. He got her to the couch and she settled down to where she was comfortable. Joan came over with Sierra and handed her to Grace.
�Here you go.�
�Thanks.� Grace sighed. �Now I feel better. No more doctors and nurses hounding me every two seconds. Oh wait�now I have Joan, Luke, and everyone else in this family!�
�Hey you slept with my brother, you have to pay the price.� Joan smirked.
�Wipe that smirk off your face, Girardi! Now may I please have a moment alone with my kid?�
�Sure. Can I get you anything?�
�I�d like a sandwich.�
�Okay.� Joan got up and went into the kitchen.
Grace looked at the little girl who was currently asleep. �Well I guess we�re going to be around each other a lot now, huh? You know�I was afraid I�d make the same mistakes my mom did with me. I promise I won�t ever hurt you or pick up any habits that will force you to have to take care of me. I love you, Sierra and I always will. Even when we fight and say things to each other that we don�t mean, just know that I won�t stop caring about you.� Grace kissed her forehead and smiled slightly.
Luke came over and sat beside Grace. �Hey.�
�Hey.� Grace sighed. �So you�re okay with this?�
�Yeah. I get to see my two favorite girls everyday.�
�Two favorite girls? Okay, I think I can handle that.� She chuckled. The baby cried and Grace looked at her. �What? Hungry already?� Grace grabbed a blanket and put it over her shoulder and part of her chest. Luke knew what she was doing and fidgeted. Grace looked at Luke once Sierra had begun eating. �Can I help you?� Grace chuckled.
�Um�I�ve just never seen someone�brea�breastfeed before.� He turned bright red.
Grace winced and sighed. �Joan breastfeeds Matt.�
�Okay one, ew! Two, she does that in her room or the bathroom and three, I need to go stab my eyeballs with a sharp pencil now.� Luke got up and walked away ignoring Grace�s laughter. He came back a few moments later. �Besides, I like watching you do it.� He kissed her cheek. Grace rolled her eyes and looked at Sierra from beneath the blanket. �That, my child, was your father. It�s okay to like him.�
Luke shook his head.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next few weeks passed slowly for everyone. Luke started school and ended up being busier than ever. He also had to work and help out with Sierra at night when he got home. Grace was still recovering from surgery and she wasn�t able to get up for long periods of time. While Grace did get some rest, Luke was tired and nearly miserable. But the weekends were better for him since he got to take catnaps once in a while.
Joan and Adam also had their hands full with Matt. As he got bigger, he became more active and curious about the world around him. He seemed to enjoy seeing Adam�s artwork and when Joan read to him, he would look at her the whole time she read.
Sierra had also become a little bundle of energy herself. She was a very good baby and seldom cried but when she did, it was clear that whatever she wanted she would get it at that moment.
Helen was also busy with work but she found time to help the girls with the kids and she would cut them a break in order to give them a night off from motherhood. Even though everyone went through a lot to take care of the new additions to the families, they were enjoying every minute of it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Matt cooed in the crib that Adam had bought for him when he came over to Adam�s house. He reached for the mobile above him and kicked his legs into the air. Adam shook a toy cow above his face and Matt laughed and wiggled around. Joan walked in and smiled.
�You�re too good with him.�
Adam smiled. �Spent three months with the kid. It�s been a bonding experience.�
Joan nodded.
�Grace is looking better. Thanks for helping with both Sierra and Matt.�
Adam nodded. Grace still had a while to go but in order to help her out, Adam had taken Sierra for a few hours the day before and when Joan had brought Matt over, he offered to watch the both of them until Joan came to pick them up. Grace had enjoyed the time to herself and she was able to sleep for a few hours without the baby waking her up.
�Oh no problem. Grace is my best friend, anything to help her out.�
�Yeah.� Joan rubbed her eyes and looked at Matt. He was looking at the mobile above his head.
�Jane, we�re 18 right?�
�Yeah.�
�I�ve been thinking about something. We�re both working and we make�okay money.�
Joan looked at him. �Adam what are you saying?�
�I think the three of us should get an apartment. I�ve been thinking about it for a while. It�ll be healthier for Matt if he has two parents together.�
�Oh Adam.� Joan smiled. �Are you sure about this? I mean can we handle a house now?�
�Well we can wait until we have enough money saved up but I thought it would be a good idea.�
Joan smiled. �I love the idea. We�ll just talk it over with our parents first and then start looking.�
�Okay.� Adam hugged and kissed her. �I have something for you.�
�What?�
Adam went to his nightstand and pulled out a long box. He walked over and handed it to her.
�I was going to give it to you�that night.�
Joan looked him in the eyes before she opened it. She gasped seeing the beautiful gold bracelet. �Oh�Adam. It�s beautiful.�
�I got it the week before. It was in my pocket and when I came over�I forgot all about it. Then when I went home I threw off my jacket and it fell out. I hid it in my nightstand trying to forget about it.�
�Photographic memory?�
Adam chuckled. �But anyway�I remembered that the anniversary was coming up. I wanted to give it to you. I want to take the memory away tonight for the both of us.�
Joan hugged him. The baby cooed and Joan looked at him.
�Jealous are we.�
Matt just kicked. Joan looked at Adam.
�Thanks.�
Adam hugged her and then they pulled away.
�Did anyone else remember?�
�Yeah. Luke did. He gave me a hug and mom made my favorite breakfast. Kevin called me up and Grace had Luke bring us something for lunch so I couldn�t dwell. Dad�he looked sad. But he smiled at me and said �It�s okay� before he went to work.�
Adam sighed. �You can stay here until tomorrow if you feel safer.�
Joan nodded. �I think I�d like that.�
Adam wrapped his arms around her from behind and they stared at Matt. He glanced up at them and cooed. Joan smiled slightly and sighed.
�You know�just looking at him makes me feel like everything�s going to be okay. He�s just so perfect.� Joan said.
�He is. I can already tell he�s going to do a lot of things to amaze us and make us proud of him.�
Joan nodded and continued to look at her son.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Two months passed and Grace had finished her recovery so she moved back home. She was unpacking her things when her mom came in.
�Gracie��
Grace turned to her. �Hey.�
�Hey. You look wonderful sweetheart.� She smiled at her.
�Thanks.� Grace went over to her closet to put some clothes in there.
�Gracie��
�Do you need something mom? I�m kind of busy and I need to feed Sierra soon.�
Her mom sighed and leaned against the door. �I just wanted to apologize.�
�For what? Calling me fat? Reminding me that I threw my life away? Oh and the best part, shoving me down the stairs.� Grace went over to her bag and tossed it into a corner once she was finished.
�Honey, you know I didn�t mean to do or say those things.�
Grace shook her head. �That doesn�t mean anything to me anymore.�
�What is it you want from me?� she asked.
�I want you to be my mother!� Grace turned to her. �I want you to ask me how I am once in a while. I want you to act like you care about your granddaughter and me. Most of all I just want it to stop. I can�t live like this anymore. I need to be responsible now. So that pretty much means�I�m done. I have to take care of someone else now.�
�Gracie��
�You hurt me mom! Not just physically but emotionally. I don�t want to subject Sierra to this. I can�t do that to her. If you can�t fix yourself, I�m gone. I�m leaving this house.�
�Where will you go?� Her mother asked, looking stricken.
�I don�t know. But if it means getting away from this mess, then so be it.�
They didn�t say anything after that. Grace turned hearing a cry.
�She�s hungry.� Grace left the room to get Sierra.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke sat on the floor in the living room watching Sierra checking out her surroundings. She was looking at one spot and hadn�t taken her eyes off it in a while. Grace sat next to him reading a book.
�So um�I talked to my mom.� She said.
Luke looked at her. �Really?�
�Yeah. I took a stand. I told her that if she couldn�t fix herself then I couldn�t live there anymore.�
�Wow. How did she take it?�
�Not sure. I had to take care of Sierra. At dinner, she wasn�t talking much. Then once I put Sierra to bed, I heard the sounds wine bottles.�
�Grace��
Grace shook her head. �No, I�it�s done. We talked and just be prepared if I come over one night with two suitcases and a crying baby, all right?�
Luke put a hand on her shoulder. He looked up when he heard the door and Will came in.
�Hey dad.� Luke said.
�Hey Luke. How was your day?�
�Fine.� He stood up and lifted Sierra into his arms. Grace got up and wiped off imaginary dirt from her pants. �How was yours?�
�Oh great. We caught a murderer.�
�Cool.� Grace said.
�Yeah. Been evading us for months now.�
Luke nodded and patted Sierra�s back. Helen walked in and smiled.
�Hey Will. Welcome home.� She kissed him.
�Hey dear. So what�s for dinner tonight?� he asked.
Helen didn�t say anything. She looked at Luke who shook his head. Grace bit her lip.
�I�m going to go�change Sierra�s diaper.� Grace gently took Sierra out of Luke�s arms and went towards the stairs.
�Honey�Luke wanted lasagna.�
�Really? What�s the occasion?� he smiled.
Luke frowned. �You forgot�again.�
�For�� Will�s eyes widened as he realized what he had forgotten. It was Luke�s birthday. �Oh God�Luke I am so-�
�Forget it!� Luke went to leave.
�Luke, I�m sorry. I�ll make it up to you.�
�It�s not just that! It�s everything! It�s this past year!� he shouted.
Grace had made it to the nursery before Luke shouted. Joan walked out and looked at her.
�What�s going on?�
�I think Luke�s finally letting your dad have it.�
�Oh no.� Joan took Sierra from Grace and put her in her crib before she went to the stairs with Grace.
�Luke.� Helen started.
�No mom I�m done! I�m sick and I�m tired of living like this! I�m tired of not saying anything and I�m tired of dad not bonding with Matt and Sierra!�
�Luke, I�ve done all I can-� Will started.
�Like what? You don�t play with them and you barely hold them! It�s like they don�t exist to you!�
�That�s not true!�
�Well if it�s not true, then why can�t you see that you�re killing me? I could take being ignored. I was used to it! Then my sister�my sister was raped. Everyone was trying their hardest to find the guy and I was filled with so much anger! I wanted to bash the guy�s brains in and I didn�t even know what he looked like! No one but Grace and Kevin knew what I was feeling. Kevin knew because he was feeling my pain also and Grace knew because I told her. But I needed you to talk to me. I needed you to tell me it was all right to be angry and it was all right to feel like the world had just fallen beneath me. You didn�t even notice me dad.�
�Son-�
�Then I got my girlfriend pregnant. I needed you dad I needed help. But no one was there for me. The focus was on getting the man who hurt Joan in prison. Once again the spotlight shines on a Girardi but no not Luke. Luke who was irresponsible and got his girlfriend pregnant. Oh and by the way? She was almost nearly raped! That was the one time you cared that I was hurting also. But then when you find out she�s pregnant, I suddenly become the bad seed. I became this irresponsible thing that couldn�t control himself.�
Grace and Joan sat in their spots in shock when Luke called himself that. They weren�t expecting anything like this to come out of his mouth.
�God dad. I�m tired. I�m so exhausted I can�t even stand up sometimes. I haven�t slept more than five hours a night because I�m so busy with school, work, and raising a baby. Everyone has been pulling their weight to help me and Joan but you. You�ve kept your distance from the kids and us. I just don�t understand why you�ve been acting this way. Where have you been? In case you forgot, you have three kids. Not just someone who�s paralyzed and not just someone who�s a rape victim. You have a son�who�s also a teenaged father and scared out of his mind! Right now I have Grace and Sierra, who are all I that I am. Joan, Adam and Matt who can just make my world light up with a smile. Kevin, mom, everyone but the one person who can really help me. The one person who knows what it�s like to be a father.� Luke covered his mouth and left the house.
Grace looked at Luke�s parents before slowly getting up and going after Luke.
Joan trembled. She sighed and stood up slowly. Helen looked upset and Will was thinking about what Luke had said.
�I�Luke is right. Everything�s different. I need to go�somewhere.� Joan looked around before heading for the door.
�Joan.� Helen stepped forward towards her daughter.
�Mom, don�t follow me.� She grabbed a jacket and ran out of the house. She ran to the park and sat on a bench crying. A dog ran up and stole a branch beside her. Joan looked up to see Dog Walker God. Joan got up and walked over to him.
�My family�s falling apart. I get raped and everyone else is barely holding on. Was this supposed to happen?�
�Everything will come full circle. Your father just needs time.�
�Time! Time! Everyone keeps saying that! Dad needs time, Joan! Dad needs time, Luke! How much more time do we need?�
�Just be with your brother, Joan. Comfort him.�
�Why can�t Grace do that?�
�Cause Grace wasn�t the one who was raped.� He walked away.
�She almost was, remember?� Joan called. She watched him leave and then walked away.