Stronger Together

~7~

After Ned leaves Grace goes over to the couch with Ben and they start up a round of Mario kart even though May scolds that it's a little to late to start a round Ben doesn't really care he's just glad that the family is back together .

After watching Gracie crush Ben at Mario kart Peter starts to get ready for bed he grabs clothes and heads for the bathroom once he's done he looks into the living room to see Gracie passed out on bens shoulder he then walks into his bed lays down getting a very good nights rest knowing that everyone he cares for is safe

Grace wakes up in the top bunk of peters bed but she's unsure of how she got there she remembers playing Mario kart with Ben but that's it she probably just fell asleep she climbs down the bunk and sees Peter is still asleep since it's Saturday she doesn't wake him she walks into the kitchen to see Ben making eggs and bacon "Morning" she tries to say but her word gets interrupted by a yawn

Ben looks over to her and smiles brightly "morning sleepyhead" he pauses to flip over bacon "how do you like your eggs?" He asks

Grace sits down on one of the stools in-front of Ben "whatever's easiest for you" she then shrugs and puts her head down in the counter in attempt of a nap.

Ben nods "Hey it's to early for naps"he lightly hits her arm with the spatula he's using

Grace groans "really Ben" she then gets up and goes to the couch and turns the tv on and puts on Disney channel

Peter wakes up to the smell of bacon and immediately remembers it's Saturday which means bens cooking breakfast he jumps out of bed and runs to the kitchen and steals a piece of bacon "thanks Ben" he says cheekily knowing he's about to get yelled at

Ben just rolls his eyes at his nephews antics "your welcome Peter but your not taking anymore" he holds the spatula out like a weapon daring Peter to try and take another piece

Peter walks away surrendering and apologizing to Ben he then sees Grace on the sofa watching TV "morning Grace " he smiles at her

"Hey Pete" she smiles back then refocuses on the TV.

The kids sit there and watch TV until Ben calls them over for food " Breakfast is done kiddos" he yells while putting the final piece of bacon on the plate

Peter runs over to the table while Grace just calmly gets up and grabs the plate Ben hands her. "Thanks Ben" she smiles as she sits down

Ben just nods and sits down to hungry to respond and almost in sync both of the Parker boys start stuffing there faces with food.

Once they all finish their breakfast May and Grace take the dishes to the dish washer and put them in and the boys go to peters room and work on some sort of science kit Peter has.

"Why don't you go play scientist with the boys?"May asks Grace wanting her to be able to have some fun for once

Grace just nods and smiles at May then makes her way over to Peters room "can I join you guys?" She asks not wanting to just barge in

Ben smiles "of course sweetie we are just trying to figure out what chemical will make the volcano work by using test strips it's not what most kids enjoy but it's a bit fun come here I'll show you"

Grace walks over to the volcano structure but she knows exactly what chemical compounds would make it explode already well there's only one that will explode without making a fire so she assumes that's what their trying to find "wouldn't it just be sodium"she thinks out loud without realizing it

Peter whips around "how do you know" he isn't challenging it because so far sodium has passed all tests but they still have 2 more left.

Grace then shrugs "well sodium is the only chemical with a low enough acidity that it won't causes a fire and plus it will cause an explosion when mixed with the hydrogen"

Ben smiles at her "great job kiddo that's correct but the fun part is actually testing it so let's finish up these next 2 tests and then we'll move onto the next kit "

The 3 of then spend the rest of the day messing with science kits and then playing some video games in the living room just enjoying the company they all have once dinner rolls around May decides to go pick up Thai while Ben stays home with Grace and Peter once she gets back they have another nice family meal teasing each other and just acting like family Grace will admit that it's the happiest she's been in a long time just spending time with people who care for her.

The next day Grace is determined to repair her friendship with Michelle she has her mother's number in her book bag which is the bag she used to bring clothes to the Parkers so all she has to do is ask to call

She walks out of peters room with her bag in her hand and then asks May "morning I was wondering if I could use your phone to call my friends mom I kinda pushed her away because if my dad and I feel really guilty about it"

May looks over at Grace who now has a few tears in her eyes "of course sweetie go ahead and dial the number" she then hands Grace the land line .

Grace dials in the number that was on the sheet of paper in-front of her double checking that it's right the phone starts to ring and it rings 3 times before Mrs.Jones picks up.

"Hi who's this?"Mrs.Jones asks

"Uh hi it's Gracelyn I was hoping to talk to Michelle " she speaks through the phone

"Oh uh sure let me go get her" Mrs. Jones goes to get Michelle

"Hello" Grace heard Michelle from another line

"Hey Michelle" Grace sighs "I just wanted to apologize for being rude and pushing you away I get it if you don't want to be my friend anymore but I just had to apologize"

MJ smiles"Grace I've missed you so much of course I still want to be your friend but if I'm your friend again you can't walk home alone again ok I'm not letting you get hurt"

Now that made Grace laugh "thanks MJ I missed you too"

The girls end up talking about Harry Potter books for hours on the land line and Grace spends most of the day on the top bunk of Peters bed talking to Michelle and Peter sometimes when he would join in on the conversation.

Graces life got significantly better for the 2 weeks she spent with the Parkers it was safe and they treated her like family she got in touch with MJ and she even got to know Ned pretty well too but then it all cam crashing down the night she went home.
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