Stronger Together

-11-

Mays on her way home from work when she sees the news about the Baileys apartment she smiles they finally caught him someone did and hopefully Grace would be ok now so she rushed home to see Peter and Grace asleep on the couch so she just draped a blanket over them.

Graces head was on peters side and he was leaning more on the arm of the couch A New Hope was playing in the background if May looked closely she could see tear marks on graces face but she couldn't wake them they looked so peaceful and it was adorable.

About an hour later Ben got home with Thai food for four he saw the kids on the couch and smiled he hadn't seen the news yet .

May came out of the bedroom and went over to Ben "you need to see this" she pulled up an article on her phone about the Baileys apartment and what happened

Ben visibly gasped and set the food down and then looking over at Gracelyn he then sees the tear marks going down her face and how Peters face seems like he's worried no wonder Grace is over here so early. "Should we wake them ?"

May sighs "as much as I want to talk to her it's probably best to let them both rest it seems like they've had a long day" She then hears movement coming from the couch and Grace gets up and she doesn't seem to know where she is for a second and then she adjusts.

Grace then gets off of Peter and walks over to the table where Ben and May are "hi" she speaks not knowing what else to say.

May smiles "hey sweetie" she then hugs her "how are you doing?"

Grace shrugs in response not really wanting to talk about it she has already opened up a lot in the past 24 hours which is something she isn't used to

Peter woke up when Grace got up and he's just been listening and then decides to get up he sees the Thai food and runs over to it "fooooooodddd" he exclaims and then starts to at stuff out on the table

Grace uses the opportunity to distract from herself "I think you have an obsession with food" she comments

Peter rolls his eyes "who doesn't?"

"Ehh true" she admits then sits down across from Ben and May and next to Peter

"Ok Grace I get that you probably don't want to talk about it but can you please tell us what happened last night I'm worried about you" May speaks without thinking about it first and Ben shoots Grace a look of sympathy

Grace swallows hard and looks at May "he kinda just came out to attack last night and I think there was a noise complaint or something and cops came just in time and caught him and I think they sedated that thing whatever it is" she lies

Peter knows she has to or she exposes him but he still feels guilty lying isn't right especially to family but it's just so he doesn't worry them. Grace looks over at Peter trying to comfort him without saying anything. It works Peter then smiles even if it is a bit forced he feels a bit better

They all finish up the meal not really saying much until Peter remembered what the cops told Grace about staying somewhere other than her apartment "is it ok if Grace stays here until they finish investigating her apartment?"

"Pete you don't even need to ask " May responded laughing a little then she turned her attention to Grace "you know your always welcome here I've said that since the day I met you"

Grace nods smiling a bit the group finishes up their dinner then Grace and May go to talk to the investigators at her apartment and get Grace some clothes for while  she stays with the Parkers "hi I'm Gracelyn and I live here I was wondering if I could go into my room and grab some clothes because I can't stay here right now?" She asks politely