Cherry Vanilla/Orange/French Vanilla/Guava smoothie
Authors: Marina and Casey
Story: Shifts universe ( post-Shifts)
Challenge: Cherry Vanilla 17 (prince charming), Orange 18 (the right place at the right time) [Marina]; French Vanilla 15 (voila), Guava 28 (kiss and make it better) [Casey]
Toppings/Extras: Caramel, Fresh Peaches (An increased understanding of the needs and desires of others enriches your relationships), Sprinkles, Smoothie [both]; Malt (Summer Challenge Bunny #100: This is for all you girls about twenty-five/In a little apartment, just trying to get by/Living on, on dreams and spaghetti-o’s/Wondering where your life is gonna go - “This One’s For The Girls,” Martina McBride) [Marina]
Word Count: 2,025
Rating: PG
Summary: Grayson gives Ellen a hand.
Notes: Ellen was present for Nate’s adoption in a story Casey wrote a while back, and we decided her friendship with Grayson was worth exploring.
Grayson whistled as he reached the building's staircase and turned back to wait for his son, who bounced after him cheerfully. Once he had caught up, Grayson scooped him up to speed up the process some. "Dada! Park?" Nate asked.
He grinned. "You bet, squirt," he said, tapping Nate on the nose as they headed down the stairs.
When they reached the second floor landing, he glanced over the balcony railing just in time to see Ellen entering the building. Nate spotted her at almost exactly the same second. "Ellen!" he yelled excitedly.
She jumped, looking up after a slight but deliberate pause. "Hi, Nate," she said, smiling. "And Grayson."
The toddler waved from Grayson's arms, beaming. "Hey, Ellen," Grayson said, continuing down the stairs. When they reached the bottom, he flashed her a brilliant smile. "Looking stunning as always."
She curtseyed a little. "Why thank you, sir." When her head came back up, he could see the red eyes behind her pleasant expression.
He blinked, sobering slightly - as much as he ever did, anyway. "You okay?"
"Not really," she said. "I'm on my way to beg my mother to let me stay with her for a little while."
Grayson scowled. "Do Drew and I need to beat someone up?" Nate stared between them curiously at the sudden detour into seriousness.
"Oh no." Ellen held up her hands. "It's not Jared's fault. Not really. We just got in an epic fight and decided to break up. So I'm moving out."
He eyed her for a moment before accepting the reason. "Why don’t you move in with us instead?" he asked easily.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, I couldn't."
"Why not? Nate and I've got an extra room and then you wouldn't have to beg your mom for anything, not that she'd say no." He grinned again. "And you wouldn't have to live with Finn again."
"I could think of worse things," she said, amused.
"Hopefully living with me and Nate doesn't qualify," he quipped, making his eyes go purposefully large in mock innocence.
Ellen hesitated, biting her lip. "You really want me to?"
"Yeah, why not? Nate adores you and it'd be nice to have someone else around for meals and stuff," Grayson said, shrugging. Then he grinned wickedly. "And just think of how much of a heart attack it'll give Drew!"
She punched him in the arm playfully. "You really need to stop harassing my brother."
"What's the fun in that? He has such perfect responses!"
She shook her head and turned to Nate. "Would that be okay with you, Nate? Should I come stay with you and your dad for a while?"
Nate brightened. "Yes! Come live wif me an' Dada!"
"Well, I guess if it's okay with you, it's okay with me." Ellen looked up at Grayson. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."
He smiled. "What are friends for? This way you're still near your mom. And you can stay as long as you want, as long as you're not messy about it."
"Oh drat, and here I was hoping I could use my utter despair as an excuse to vandalize your apartment," she said dryly.
"Only if you clean it up again after a day or two," Grayson said breezily. "Anyway, you're living with me. What reason do you have for despair?"
"Well, I don't have to worry about where I'm going to live, so that's one thing. You have to let me pay rent, though."
"If you insist. We can figure that out whenever."
"Okay."
Nate saved them from an awkward silence by tugging on his father’s sleeve, now tired of adult talk. "Dada, park?"
Ellen laughed a little bit and stepped back. "You go ahead and take him out. I want to talk to my mother anyway."
"Sounds good. Just call or text me and let me know your plans," Grayson said.
She nodded. "Okay, I will." Giving them both a brief smile, she tucked her hair behind her ear and hurried past them to the stairway, head bowed again. Grayson watched her go, an oddly thoughtful look on his face. Nate wiggling to be let down brought him back to the present, and his eternal smile returned as he set the boy down and took his hand instead.
***
Ellen stayed with Joy overnight and went back to get her things once she was sure Jared had left for work. She did not have very much to pack, just some clothes and valuables that took up only one suitcase and a couple of tote bags. Grayson had given her the key to his apartment, so she took everything up there and spent the rest of the day trying to convince herself not to get stupid drunk.
Grayson appeared around six, carting a backpack, a diaper bag and Nate. True to character, he was singing loudly and off-key when he came into the apartment. She automatically went rimrod straight, half-forcing her smile. "Hey, guys."
He promptly raised an eyebrow at her, gaze sharp. "Hey. You look...okay, your choice. Small child," at this, he held Nate out to her by the armpits, "or adult time?"
Ellen pressed her fingers to her lips, feeling about to break down into tears again. "Small child? And maybe adult time later?"
"Can do," he said, depositing a giggling Nate gently in her lap. She promptly hugged him tightly, hiding her face in his hair.
Nate hugged her back before reaching up a hand and patting her on the head. "Love you, Ellen!"
"I love you too, Nate," she managed. He stayed snuggled in her arms as Grayson slipped quietly into the kitchen to make a quick dinner.
Ellen put her brave face back on for the table and managed to give Nate a mostly cheerful goodnight hug before Grayson took him off to his bed. After that, she sank back onto the couch, unsure what to do.
Grayson finished cleaning up and then appeared in the kitchen door. "Alcohol?" he asked with a faint smile.
She pulled her knees up to her chest. "It's probably a bad idea. Not that I'm not tempted."
"Well, you know where my supply is if you ever do," he said seriously, disappearing for a moment and then coming over with a glass of fruit juice for each of them.
"Thanks." She took a sip of hers and swallowed it slowly, staring at the opposite wall. He settled in on the other end of the couch, staying surprisingly silent. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Grayson," she said, after a moment.
"Carry on. I know you and Jared were pretty serious. It'll take some time."
She nodded. "I thought we were going to get married."
Only now did he reach out a hand and gently pat her shoulder. "Things don't always go as we expect them."
"I just feel so stupid."
"Stupid? Ellen, we're human, we always expect things to work out for the best. Just because they don't always doesn't make you stupid."
She put her glass down on the coffee table. "See, on one level I know that, but...I can't help it. I keep thinking about what Father would say, if he knew."
At that, Grayson grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. "Ellen, your father is your father, but he's also a giant prick. And you know what, he probably would tell you're being stupid, but mostly because you're dithering over it."
"No, you're right, you're right." She wiped her eyes.
He let go to get her the tissues, which he placed in her lap. "But I wouldn't say stupid. I'd say human. You're allowed to cry about it. I still say Drew and I should beat him up. We could invite Rand if that would make you feel better."
Ellen blew her nose, grateful for the distraction. "No. I appreciate it, but it's not going to do any good really."
"Too bad. I always found bloody knuckles help every situation."
"Grayson, no."
A ghost of a smile flickered across his face. "Oh fine, if you insist. Spoil all my fun why don't you?"
A small, breathless laugh escaped her. "Come on, your job is to tell children that hitting doesn't solve problems. You have to practice what you preach."
"I rarely tell them that hitting doesn't solve problems. I just convince them to hit more constructive things."
"Grayson."
"What? I'm serious! Sometimes those things are just metaphorical things instead of physical things. Or sometimes a punching bag works really well. Got one in my office, dontcha know."
"Really? I didn't know that."
"Yup. You should come visit sometime."
"Maybe I should."
He cocked his head at her curiously then. "What are you doing with yourself these days? God, I feel terrible for not immediately knowing."
"Don't. I don't even know." Ellen let her chin rest on her knees, feeling more and more like she was eleven years old again. "I should go back to school, probably, but I don't even know what for."
Grayson scooted over and put an arm companionably around her shoulders. "Why don't you sub for us while you decide? We can always use good subs. And people in the preschool."
"Really? They'd hire someone with a liberal arts degree?"
He grinned. "Henry would. She hired me, after all."
"Your boss is probably the best person in the world," Ellen said, unable to help smiling back. "I hope you know that."
"As much as I torture her, I'm aware every day. Obviously I'm just one lucky bastard."
"Well, if you'd put in a good word for me, I'd appreciate it. I like kids, and it beats secretary work." She scrubbed at her eye with the heel of her hand. "I might need a couple days to not be a wreck, though."
Grayson nudged her other hand with the tissue box. "I can handle both of those. Henry'll want to meet you, but you're way smarter than me, so I'm sure you'll impress her, no problem."
"Okay," she said, accepting another tissue. "Thanks."
"Welcome. Anything else I can do?"
She shook her head. "This is enough. You're a really good friend, Grayson."
He shrugged, almost seeming embarrassed, although that would have been very out of place for him. "Don't worry about it."
Ellen nodded and reached for her juice again. Grayson patted her on the shoulder before moving away and reaching for his backpack. "I always swore I was never going to be one of those people who had homework as an adult," he said ruefully. "Don't tell the others."
She laughed, more easily now. "I don't know, maybe I should give Drew and Rand some ammo so they can get you back for all the years you've tormented them."
"What? No way! I do it for their own good," he said righteously.
"If you say so."
"I do! Think how big of a stick Rand would have up his ass if it weren't for me," he said, grinning widely.
She pressed her hands into her eyes. "Oh, God, bad mental images."
"My bad," Grayson said, cheerfully and not the least bit apologetically.
"Is living with you going to be like this all the time?" she asked, amused in spite of herself.
"Only if you make stupid comments."
"Then I guess I just won't do that."
"Good plan," he said sagely, reaching over and patting her on the head much the same way Nate had done a couple hours earlier.
She made a face at him. "Go do your homework, young man."
Grayson laughed, settling back on the couch with a pile of papers and a pen. "The remote's on the coffee table if you want to watch something," he told her.
"Actually, I think I'm going to go to bed, but thanks."
He glanced up again and smiled. "Goodnight. If you need anything, you know where my room is."
Ellen nodded and got up. "Night. See you tomorrow."
Talking with Grayson had made her feel a little better. She cried into her pillow that night anyway, but the hopeless misery she had felt earlier began to recede.
Story: Shifts universe ( post-Shifts)
Challenge: Cherry Vanilla 17 (prince charming), Orange 18 (the right place at the right time) [Marina]; French Vanilla 15 (voila), Guava 28 (kiss and make it better) [Casey]
Toppings/Extras: Caramel, Fresh Peaches (An increased understanding of the needs and desires of others enriches your relationships), Sprinkles, Smoothie [both]; Malt (Summer Challenge Bunny #100: This is for all you girls about twenty-five/In a little apartment, just trying to get by/Living on, on dreams and spaghetti-o’s/Wondering where your life is gonna go - “This One’s For The Girls,” Martina McBride) [Marina]
Word Count: 2,025
Rating: PG
Summary: Grayson gives Ellen a hand.
Notes: Ellen was present for Nate’s adoption in a story Casey wrote a while back, and we decided her friendship with Grayson was worth exploring.
Grayson whistled as he reached the building's staircase and turned back to wait for his son, who bounced after him cheerfully. Once he had caught up, Grayson scooped him up to speed up the process some. "Dada! Park?" Nate asked.
He grinned. "You bet, squirt," he said, tapping Nate on the nose as they headed down the stairs.
When they reached the second floor landing, he glanced over the balcony railing just in time to see Ellen entering the building. Nate spotted her at almost exactly the same second. "Ellen!" he yelled excitedly.
She jumped, looking up after a slight but deliberate pause. "Hi, Nate," she said, smiling. "And Grayson."
The toddler waved from Grayson's arms, beaming. "Hey, Ellen," Grayson said, continuing down the stairs. When they reached the bottom, he flashed her a brilliant smile. "Looking stunning as always."
She curtseyed a little. "Why thank you, sir." When her head came back up, he could see the red eyes behind her pleasant expression.
He blinked, sobering slightly - as much as he ever did, anyway. "You okay?"
"Not really," she said. "I'm on my way to beg my mother to let me stay with her for a little while."
Grayson scowled. "Do Drew and I need to beat someone up?" Nate stared between them curiously at the sudden detour into seriousness.
"Oh no." Ellen held up her hands. "It's not Jared's fault. Not really. We just got in an epic fight and decided to break up. So I'm moving out."
He eyed her for a moment before accepting the reason. "Why don’t you move in with us instead?" he asked easily.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, I couldn't."
"Why not? Nate and I've got an extra room and then you wouldn't have to beg your mom for anything, not that she'd say no." He grinned again. "And you wouldn't have to live with Finn again."
"I could think of worse things," she said, amused.
"Hopefully living with me and Nate doesn't qualify," he quipped, making his eyes go purposefully large in mock innocence.
Ellen hesitated, biting her lip. "You really want me to?"
"Yeah, why not? Nate adores you and it'd be nice to have someone else around for meals and stuff," Grayson said, shrugging. Then he grinned wickedly. "And just think of how much of a heart attack it'll give Drew!"
She punched him in the arm playfully. "You really need to stop harassing my brother."
"What's the fun in that? He has such perfect responses!"
She shook her head and turned to Nate. "Would that be okay with you, Nate? Should I come stay with you and your dad for a while?"
Nate brightened. "Yes! Come live wif me an' Dada!"
"Well, I guess if it's okay with you, it's okay with me." Ellen looked up at Grayson. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."
He smiled. "What are friends for? This way you're still near your mom. And you can stay as long as you want, as long as you're not messy about it."
"Oh drat, and here I was hoping I could use my utter despair as an excuse to vandalize your apartment," she said dryly.
"Only if you clean it up again after a day or two," Grayson said breezily. "Anyway, you're living with me. What reason do you have for despair?"
"Well, I don't have to worry about where I'm going to live, so that's one thing. You have to let me pay rent, though."
"If you insist. We can figure that out whenever."
"Okay."
Nate saved them from an awkward silence by tugging on his father’s sleeve, now tired of adult talk. "Dada, park?"
Ellen laughed a little bit and stepped back. "You go ahead and take him out. I want to talk to my mother anyway."
"Sounds good. Just call or text me and let me know your plans," Grayson said.
She nodded. "Okay, I will." Giving them both a brief smile, she tucked her hair behind her ear and hurried past them to the stairway, head bowed again. Grayson watched her go, an oddly thoughtful look on his face. Nate wiggling to be let down brought him back to the present, and his eternal smile returned as he set the boy down and took his hand instead.
***
Ellen stayed with Joy overnight and went back to get her things once she was sure Jared had left for work. She did not have very much to pack, just some clothes and valuables that took up only one suitcase and a couple of tote bags. Grayson had given her the key to his apartment, so she took everything up there and spent the rest of the day trying to convince herself not to get stupid drunk.
Grayson appeared around six, carting a backpack, a diaper bag and Nate. True to character, he was singing loudly and off-key when he came into the apartment. She automatically went rimrod straight, half-forcing her smile. "Hey, guys."
He promptly raised an eyebrow at her, gaze sharp. "Hey. You look...okay, your choice. Small child," at this, he held Nate out to her by the armpits, "or adult time?"
Ellen pressed her fingers to her lips, feeling about to break down into tears again. "Small child? And maybe adult time later?"
"Can do," he said, depositing a giggling Nate gently in her lap. She promptly hugged him tightly, hiding her face in his hair.
Nate hugged her back before reaching up a hand and patting her on the head. "Love you, Ellen!"
"I love you too, Nate," she managed. He stayed snuggled in her arms as Grayson slipped quietly into the kitchen to make a quick dinner.
Ellen put her brave face back on for the table and managed to give Nate a mostly cheerful goodnight hug before Grayson took him off to his bed. After that, she sank back onto the couch, unsure what to do.
Grayson finished cleaning up and then appeared in the kitchen door. "Alcohol?" he asked with a faint smile.
She pulled her knees up to her chest. "It's probably a bad idea. Not that I'm not tempted."
"Well, you know where my supply is if you ever do," he said seriously, disappearing for a moment and then coming over with a glass of fruit juice for each of them.
"Thanks." She took a sip of hers and swallowed it slowly, staring at the opposite wall. He settled in on the other end of the couch, staying surprisingly silent. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Grayson," she said, after a moment.
"Carry on. I know you and Jared were pretty serious. It'll take some time."
She nodded. "I thought we were going to get married."
Only now did he reach out a hand and gently pat her shoulder. "Things don't always go as we expect them."
"I just feel so stupid."
"Stupid? Ellen, we're human, we always expect things to work out for the best. Just because they don't always doesn't make you stupid."
She put her glass down on the coffee table. "See, on one level I know that, but...I can't help it. I keep thinking about what Father would say, if he knew."
At that, Grayson grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. "Ellen, your father is your father, but he's also a giant prick. And you know what, he probably would tell you're being stupid, but mostly because you're dithering over it."
"No, you're right, you're right." She wiped her eyes.
He let go to get her the tissues, which he placed in her lap. "But I wouldn't say stupid. I'd say human. You're allowed to cry about it. I still say Drew and I should beat him up. We could invite Rand if that would make you feel better."
Ellen blew her nose, grateful for the distraction. "No. I appreciate it, but it's not going to do any good really."
"Too bad. I always found bloody knuckles help every situation."
"Grayson, no."
A ghost of a smile flickered across his face. "Oh fine, if you insist. Spoil all my fun why don't you?"
A small, breathless laugh escaped her. "Come on, your job is to tell children that hitting doesn't solve problems. You have to practice what you preach."
"I rarely tell them that hitting doesn't solve problems. I just convince them to hit more constructive things."
"Grayson."
"What? I'm serious! Sometimes those things are just metaphorical things instead of physical things. Or sometimes a punching bag works really well. Got one in my office, dontcha know."
"Really? I didn't know that."
"Yup. You should come visit sometime."
"Maybe I should."
He cocked his head at her curiously then. "What are you doing with yourself these days? God, I feel terrible for not immediately knowing."
"Don't. I don't even know." Ellen let her chin rest on her knees, feeling more and more like she was eleven years old again. "I should go back to school, probably, but I don't even know what for."
Grayson scooted over and put an arm companionably around her shoulders. "Why don't you sub for us while you decide? We can always use good subs. And people in the preschool."
"Really? They'd hire someone with a liberal arts degree?"
He grinned. "Henry would. She hired me, after all."
"Your boss is probably the best person in the world," Ellen said, unable to help smiling back. "I hope you know that."
"As much as I torture her, I'm aware every day. Obviously I'm just one lucky bastard."
"Well, if you'd put in a good word for me, I'd appreciate it. I like kids, and it beats secretary work." She scrubbed at her eye with the heel of her hand. "I might need a couple days to not be a wreck, though."
Grayson nudged her other hand with the tissue box. "I can handle both of those. Henry'll want to meet you, but you're way smarter than me, so I'm sure you'll impress her, no problem."
"Okay," she said, accepting another tissue. "Thanks."
"Welcome. Anything else I can do?"
She shook her head. "This is enough. You're a really good friend, Grayson."
He shrugged, almost seeming embarrassed, although that would have been very out of place for him. "Don't worry about it."
Ellen nodded and reached for her juice again. Grayson patted her on the shoulder before moving away and reaching for his backpack. "I always swore I was never going to be one of those people who had homework as an adult," he said ruefully. "Don't tell the others."
She laughed, more easily now. "I don't know, maybe I should give Drew and Rand some ammo so they can get you back for all the years you've tormented them."
"What? No way! I do it for their own good," he said righteously.
"If you say so."
"I do! Think how big of a stick Rand would have up his ass if it weren't for me," he said, grinning widely.
She pressed her hands into her eyes. "Oh, God, bad mental images."
"My bad," Grayson said, cheerfully and not the least bit apologetically.
"Is living with you going to be like this all the time?" she asked, amused in spite of herself.
"Only if you make stupid comments."
"Then I guess I just won't do that."
"Good plan," he said sagely, reaching over and patting her on the head much the same way Nate had done a couple hours earlier.
She made a face at him. "Go do your homework, young man."
Grayson laughed, settling back on the couch with a pile of papers and a pen. "The remote's on the coffee table if you want to watch something," he told her.
"Actually, I think I'm going to go to bed, but thanks."
He glanced up again and smiled. "Goodnight. If you need anything, you know where my room is."
Ellen nodded and got up. "Night. See you tomorrow."
Talking with Grayson had made her feel a little better. She cried into her pillow that night anyway, but the hopeless misery she had felt earlier began to recede.