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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Four years later.
Joan ate a piece of celery before going over to the cake table and making sure that everything was ready. Matt was four years old today and they were having a party for him. He was currently in the backyard of Will and Helen�s house in the bouncing castle with his friends. They were all just waiting for Grace, Luke, and Sierra, who were running late.
The past four years had been a busy time for them. Adam and Joan had saved up for an apartment and found one that they liked. It was small with three bedrooms and overlooked the town. During this time, they were also taking college courses online and got jobs that paid a tad bit better than their original jobs did.
As for Grace and Luke, they had gotten their own apartment with Sierra and soon Grace got a job in order to help pay for the apartment and to take care of Sierra.
Matt and Sierra had also grown up to be close friends and they were always playing with each other no matter where they were or what they were doing. Matt was her protector and never let his little cousin be bullied by anyone older. As for Sierra, she could be a feisty girl at times and if someone was bothering Matt, she didn�t hesitate to throw dirt at them or push them. Luke commented more than once that his little girl definitely was Grace�s little girl too.
While Sierra loved being with her mother and listening to her rant about everything, she loved it when her daddy told her about the stars in the sky and the things that went on in the world around her.
Matt also went back and forth with his parents. He loved to paint with his dad and he loved to be in Joan�s arms when she read to him before he went to bed.
They also adored their grandparents, Helen and Will. They were a lot closer to the children and would take care of them when they could. Matt and Helen had a special bond while Sierra was grandpa�s little girl. She had him wrapped tightly around her finger just like her own father.
Once in a while, Grace and Sierra would go to visit Grace�s parents and sometimes Sierra would be sent somewhere to play. She could hear singing once in a while and what sounded like her mother talking loudly. She didn�t understand what was going on only that sometimes her mom came down looking upset and they would leave soon afterwards.
They also loved their Uncle Kevin, who would race them around in his wheelchair whenever he was around. While this worried Joan and Luke, none of them seemed to care. They were just having fun.
Now the kids were another year older and it was a time to celebrate. Joan was about to go see everyone when she heard the doorbell ring. She went to open the door and smiled seeing Luke, Grace, and Sierra. �Hey you guys! Fashionably late I see?� she raised an eyebrow. Sierra was wearing her new sundress and Grace had on jeans and a new t-shirt while Luke was in shorts and a shirt.
�The kid�s four, Joan, I doubt he�ll notice we�re late.� Luke handed Sierra to Joan so she could say hi to her aunt.
�Hey sweetie! Are you ready to have fun?�
�Uh huh! I want cake!� she announced.
Grace laughed. �Later, Sierra. Joan where should I put the present?�
�Oh, just put it in the den. That�s where we�re going to open them.�
�Okay.� Grace went into the den and put Matt�s present with all the others. She looked at all the decorations. From all of the balloons, streamers, and signs, she could tell everyone was having a big fuss over his fourth birthday.
�At least they toned it down from when he was one.� Luke said.
�Yeah. Should I expect this for Sierra?� she looked at him.
�Probably.� He walked over and kissed her. �Come on.�
Grace and Luke went out to the back where the kids were playing. Kevin was near the bouncing castle holding a baby in his lap. Luke walked over.
�Hey man.�
�Hey Luke! Sierra barely said hi to me. She just zoomed in there.�
�Yeah that�s our little girl.� Luke chuckled as he watched Matt and Sierra jump around each other. �Hey Matt!� he called.
�Hi Uncle Luke! Watch me!� Matt did a somersault and Luke shook his head.
�Good job but be careful!� Luke looked down at his brother. �And how is the newest Girardi doing?�
�Great. He�s already crawling.�
�Wow. Hey Tyler�hey buddy. Come see Uncle Luke.� Luke took the seven-month-old baby from Kevin�s arms and picked him up. �Hey little critter. How are you doing?� He tickled his stomach and Tyler giggled.
Kevin�s wife, Lindsay, walked over to them and smiled seeing Luke with her son. �Isn�t he just the sweetest?�
�He gets sweeter every time I see him. Hey Linds, how are you doing?� he hugged her.
Kevin and Lindsay had met a couple of years earlier when she came to town as an intern at the courthouse. They had run into each other and she never once said anything about his wheelchair. She liked him for who he was and they got along wonderfully together. It also helped that as soon as she met Matt and Sierra, she fell in love with them as they did her. They decided to get married after dating for a six months and a year later they were married. Almost immediately, they were pregnant with their son.
�Fine. I would be over with Grace and Joan, but they are having one of their �come near us and die� conversations so I decided to see how my favorite man was doing.�
�Aw thanks babe.� Kevin smiled at her.
�And he looks pretty good with his Uncle Luke.� Lindsay couldn�t hold it in and giggled.
Luke let out a whoop and slowly walked over to his mom with Tyler as Kevin pulled Lindsay into his lap and began tickling her.
On the patio, Grace and Joan were eating potato salad and talking.
�So you and Luke set a date yet?� Joan asked.
Grace blushed. �We�re thinking some time in April. What about you and Rove?�
Joan smiled. She looked over at Adam who was tackling the barbecue with Will. He had proposed to her a few months earlier and they were eagerly getting ready for their day as were Luke and Grace.
�We�re thinking next October. I�ve always wanted to have a fall wedding.�
Grace nodded and looked at Joan. �I don�t mean to pry but do you think you�ll be ready for�you know?�
Joan looked down at her food and pushed it around. Even after four years, it still hurt to remember everything. �Only time will tell but Adam�s amazing. I know he wouldn�t put me in harm�s way.�
�Well duh. The guy loves you so much I think he�d take a bullet for you.�
Joan chuckled then looked up at the sky, muttering �You so did not hear that!�
�Did you say something?� Grace asked.
�Nope.�
Grace turned to check on Sierra and then she looked towards Luke. She saw him playing with Tyler and something inside of her twinged seeing how good he was being with his new nephew. Grace looked away and began stabbing at her food.
Joan noticed this and was worried. �Whoa, Grace! What�s wrong?�
�Nothing. Just seeing Luke with the baby.�
Joan turned and watched as Luke flew Tyler over his head and then spun around in a circle. She looked at her best friend.
�So? He�s always holding Tyler.�
Grace put a hand under her chin. �I want another baby.�
Joan coughed and quickly drank her soda. �Really? I thought you didn�t want another one.�
�I didn�t�at first. Then Sierra got older and Matt became more active. Kevin got married and had a baby. Luke loves those boys so much. He takes Matt everywhere and he watches Tyler every chance he gets. He doesn�t say it but�I know he wants a baby of his own. I know he wants a little boy that will be interested in science or anything else that he gets from his dad.�
�Grace��
�I know, Joan! You don�t have to remind me. I had a big fat tear after having Sierra and the damage caused more damage to my reproductive organs and now I can�t have another baby. Believe me I know.� She said loudly.
Everyone paused and turned towards Grace. Luke looked at his fianc�e in shock and he had no idea what to say or if he should say anything. Grace looked at them with a glare.
�Nothing to see here people!� She noticed Luke�s look and turned away.
Joan wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. �Hey. Come with me.�
She took Grace by the wrist and they went inside and upstairs. They went into Matt�s room and sat on his bed.
�Okay. Just talk to me. Tell me everything.�
Grace looked around the guest room, which was used for the kids when they visited. She noticed a familiar little bear on his dresser. She got up and went over to it. She picked it up and ran her finger across the little leather jacket. She smiled.
�You know when Luke told me that I probably wouldn�t have anymore kids, I didn�t really think about it. I mean I was 17, I just had a baby, and I wasn�t even thinking of the future. Now�I see Luke with these kids and I want to be the one who gives him another one. I mean yeah we could adopt but�I want to feel pregnant again. Okay so I didn�t like some parts about being pregnant but still�
�That is a great feeling, Grace. Feeling the baby inside of you kicking and moving.�
Grace nodded. �I hate feeling like this because I know everyone will just say �too bad Grace, adoption�s your only option.��
�I�m not saying it.� Joan said softly.
�Thanks.�
The door opened and Matt walked in. �Aunt Grace?�
Grace smiled at him. �Hey there.�
�Are you all right? Everyone�s worried.�
Grace rolled her eyes. �Great, just what I needed. An audience.�
Joan laughed. �I�ll go take care of them.� She went to leave.
�Grace?� Matt asked. He held up his arms. Grace put his bear down and picked him up.
�Come here.� Grace hugged him and swung up him around like she always would when she was holding him. �You like that?�
�Yeah! More!�
�Okay.� Grace swung him around again.
Joan watched them with a smile before going into the hall. She looked up and sighed.
�I know you don�t do special orders but�if you can just�do something for her, that would be awesome.� She went downstairs to do damage control.
A while later, Grace walked outside with Matt and Luke walked over to her holding Tyler.
�Hey.�
�Hi. Don�t even ask me, I�m fine Luke.�
�Are you?� he asked.
Grace nodded. �Yeah. Hey can I?� she held her hands out as if to take Tyler.
�Yeah sure.� He handed the baby to her.
�Hey. Hey. Can you say hi? Hi Grace. Say hi Grace.� Grace carried him around the backyard. Luke watched her, feeling sad for what they�d never have. He turned to see his daughter playing and smiled. �Thanks for giving her to us.� He whispered before going over to see if she would let him join.
After playing with her dad, Sierra went over to her mom. She was relaxing on one of the chairs while holding Tyler in one arm.
�Mommy! Mommy!� Sierra ran over to her.
�What?� Grace looked at her.
�Are you okay mommy?��
�Yeah I�m fine.� She smiled.
�Mommy, I was wondering��
�What?� Grace sighed.
�Can I have a baby brother or sister?�
Grace frowned. She sighed. �Um�sweetheart where did that come from?�
�Well I�ve been seeing all of these other kids with their families and I thought it might be fun to have a little brother or sister.�
Grace bit her lip and coughed a bit. �We can talk about that later, okay? Go play with Matt.�
�Okay.� Sierra ran off.
Grace looked at Tyler and turned him around.
�Hey. So you really like this family?� He cooed and reached for her necklace. �Yeah I do too. They worry their butts off about you but they know what to say. Don�t worry, you�ll get used to it.�
Luke walked over and sat down next to her. �Hey.�
�Hey.� Grace looked at him. �Um�about my outburst.�
�Grace, you don�t have to explain. I�ve felt that way too.�
�Really?� Grace sighed and she let Tyler play with her fingers.
�Yeah. I mean I would love to have a son of my own but�I�m fine with Sierra. She�s the best thing that ever happened to me�aside from you of course.�
Grace blushed and looked away. �I just feel like somehow I�m disappointing you.�
�You could never disappoint me, Grace.� He said softly. He gently pulled her face towards him and kissed her lips. Tyler made noises between them and they looked at him.
�I think he wants attention.� Grace chuckled.
�Yeah. Hey you come here.� Luke took him and blew raspberries on his cheek.
Grace watched them together and wondered if Luke had been telling her the truth.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A week later, Grace was on at the store getting some things for dinner that night before going home from work. She was getting some chicken breasts when she heard someone ask her something. Grace turned to the woman.
�I�m sorry, what?�
�Do you have the time?�
�Oh! Um�5:20.�
�Thank you. You�re very kind.� She smiled at her.
�Well um thanks. Glad to help.� Grace looked at the woman. She seemed familiar but she couldn�t place the face.
�Shopping for the family?�
�Yeah.� Grace went down the aisle. �Have I seen you before?�
The woman smiled. �I don�t think so dear.�
�Okay.� Grace happened to see a woman down the aisle with two kids. She sighed and turned to grab a can of beets.
�Don�t worry.� The old woman placed a hand on Grace�s arm. Grace looked at her, startled. �Everything will be all right.� She squeezed Grace�s arm gently before walking away. Grace watched her confused.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night after dinner, Luke and Grace were lying in bed staring at the ceiling.
�I had the weirdest conversation today at the store.�
�Really?� Luke held her close. �Want to tell me about it?�
Grace shrugged. Luke rubbed Grace�s back. Grace sat up a bit and looked down at her fianc�e.
�What?� Luke asked.
�Just looking.�
Luke smiled and moved a strand of hair away from her face. Grace leaned down and kissed him softly on the mouth. They kissed passionately for a few moments and Grace pulled away to take her top off. Luke sat up and put a hand on her cheek. Grace looked into his eyes.
�I love you.� She said.
�I love you too.� Luke kissed her and gently pushed her down on the bed.