grace's dad

Gabriel "Gabe" Andrews, 22 Computer Sciences & IT Junior Year Fathered Grace Erin Andrews-Eaton

[sergeantalexhudson-blog]

“I’ve only tried it once, but it was hella relaxing.” Thinking he added: “Its that bad?” Alex had never truly gone truth that party phase. All his friends on base had introduced him to beer and whiskey of course. A couple had smoked pot, but most who did did so for medical purposed. He’d tried it once, and realized how incredibly low his tolerance for herbs were. He was a decent drinker, but smoker? Not at all. He chuckled, picking said bottle up to empty it. “Gave you lots of ideas now didn’t I..” Setting the brown bottle down Alex looked away from the glittering glass. “We’ve been hooking up for about.. A year? On and off. So I guess I could suggest we go back to that, try not to be jealous seeing her with other guys.. I’d like to be exclusive now that theres feelings involved. I mean, no, I haven’t been exclusive with anyone in years. But I tend to stick to one hook up at a time. But this.. this is different.” At the mention of his military background the man nodded with a knowing look. “She might be. Thats the reason I haven’t entered into anything serious prior to this. I didn’t want to fall for someone and have to leave them behind. Once I graduate I am, yes. I can’t really see myself doing anything else.” 

[gabeandrews]

“Just once? Man, you need to try it at least twice more. It really is relaxing, like all the problems you have get flushed out for quite a while.” Gabe was an escapist; he used to be one. He escaped problems by turning to alcohol and occasionally, pot. He ran away from everything. It wasn’t a great advice, but with whatever these two boys were going through, the evening might end up with them getting more high than drunk. When Alex described how this time felt different, Gabe thought his friend need not say more. “And everyone, a military officer or not, gets out of touch after graduation. Your military duties shouldn’t get in the way of your relationships this time. I hope she realizes this. Maybe you should make her realize this. If she isn’t ready, well we’re going to have a long journey on this together, man.”

[gabeandrews]

She laughed, “If you think I will list them for you then you don’t know me, they aren’t major anyway just you know deal with it.” She giggled looking over at him slightly before at race in her arms, “I am glad you will, I would be hurt if you didn’t anyway and you know you wouldn’t want to hurt your best friend.” She pouted looking over at him before nodding, “You can have her back soon but she’s just way too adorable right now.

“I would never want to hurt you. I did once, and I’m not going to do it ever again.” He smiled before nodding and stretching his arms. “I should be going back to Lila soon though. Soon as she wakes up, she’ll want to hold Grace again. My dad isn’t coming, her parents aren’t ---for obvious reasons. So visiting hours for friends will cover a lot.”

[gabeandrews]

Kara couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head, “No I don’t think it’s that, there are many other reasons but right now I can’t decide the reason. Just you shouldn’t worry about sharing the number one spot.” She smiled looking at him and nodded, “Yeah pretty much similar to that. Oh no, not just your parts because you’ll miss things if you do that. You need to read all of it, please? I will find a way to make sure you do that some way or other. I will make sure to buy you the biggest cake if you read all of it.” She smiled softly looking at her giggling and nodded, “Thank you. Oh why would I be tired of carrying her, she’s too cute but if you want her back you can.”

“Oh my god there are many other reasons! Whatever have I done to deserve this, Kara Greene?” He grinned after feigning hurt. He didn’t mind that she had other best friends, really. Because he had too. Finally dropping the jokes, he nodded and smiled kindly. “I’ll read all of it. And not just because you promised me the biggest cake! And, I always want her back. But these next days I’m going to be carrying her all the time so, enjoy it if you please.”

[sergeantalexhudson-blog]

“And we can’t have that. Ahh, the herbal purge. Could use some of that right about now. What man doesn’t look all dapper in that uniform thought? For that to happen I would surely have to be flat out drunk, but I’m sure they would all appreciate the sight of me. Oh yeah absolutely. Wouldn’t want to miss anything would we? These first few years of a kids life is after all very crucial to document. But I’m sure you’re already trailing her daily with a camera right?” He  asked back, remembering a time when his dads hand had had a video camera glued to it. For pretty much all of what you would consider childhood accomplishments. Grace might not be so happy about being on film now, but he was sure, someday, she would appreciate how so many memories were caught on tape. Lila would probably be grateful for some home movies too now that she couldn’t be there for everything as she was getting help. Getting better.  Alex pressed his lips together a little. He was nearly as confused about it as Gabe sounded. “She did.. thats the million dollar question isn’t it?” He tapped his glass against the table. “Probably fear. She’s been in a couple of relationships that didn’t end well and I’m guessing she’s scared I’ll hurt her. Or that she’ll hurt me.” 

[gabeandrews]

“Me too actually,” he nodded. Thinking how much pot he used to smoke in every party he went to, just two years ago. Now that he’s a father, it seems like it’s been ages ago, and he can’t even remember what it feels like to be high anymore. “Flat out drunk huh?” He grinned and pushed the other man’s bottle closer to him, “Careful what you wish for, man. You’re about to be on your way there.” Gabe rested his arm on the counter as he faced Alex, switching to his full-time listener mood. “Oh. I guess when it came to insecurities, that’s kinda inevitable. Will it work if you proposed a different kind of dating? Or do you only do exclusive? And.. maybe she’s afraid that given your military record, you have to be deployed somewhere, causing you to leave school and her. Maybe that’s one of the things that scares her. What’s your plan about that though? Are you going back out there?”

[gabeandrews]

His concern was touching, in a way that made her heart soar and drop into the pit of her stomach at the same time. It felt nice, to have someone worry, but they were also new parents, and worrying was basically all they did nowadays. She hated that she had piled on even more. “Yeah, they threatened me with the feeding tube if I didn’t,” she joked sardonically, her typically quick humor having taken a dark turn along with her outlook. But Gabe deserved better than her old ways of defensive humor, so she softened instantly. “My eating’s been fine. Doesn’t mean I feel like it, but I know I’m here to get better. I’m not going to let something stupid like food get in the way of that.”

She listened patiently as the questions spouted out of Gabe’s mouth, a special kind of fondness for him growing in her chest at what an undeniably Gabe thing it was. “The food’s fine,” she shrugged, starting backwards. “The nurses are patronizing, but the doctor’s okay. Sometimes it gets lonely, but it gives me time to think. Other times, I talk with the other patients - to varying degrees of success. And I spoke with Max - he’s in the psychology department - and he talked to a professor who gave me a recommendation. And, um, I got in contact with my mom. She’s left my dad and she’s gonna foot the bill here. I told her to come visit as soon as she gets a chance….”

It had been a huge step, calling her mother. Their relationship had always been distant - her fault, she knew - but in the pits of her despair, she just felt like a child herself, one who desperately needed a mommy to make it all better. And she was glad she did make that step, that she reached out across that chasm, because it turned out her mother was just waiting on the other side, looking for some way to cross, too.

She may not know it, but Gabe actually missed her dark humour. It reminded him of when everything was okay and that her only problems were her father and how she’ll ever pay student loans in the future. Lila joking about threats, using reality to spice it up. It may not be appropriate with her current state, but it showed Gabe that she’s still there somewhere. People can’t be saved, not really, and he’s learned that by now. But if she still has her dark humour, there’s still chance for her. There’s a Lila he could pull out of this blues. He loved who she is now ---fuck it. He’d still love her no matter her mood, no matter her phase. And he’ll choose her happiness, before anything else.

The nurses are patronizing. Gabe smiled at that. “I think I just spoke to one of those nurses. If they kept on doing that to you, I’m gonna have to punch ‘em in the face. We’ve got plenty of patronizing instructors back at school, we don’t need any of that attitude in here. It’s supposed to be a comfort zone for you." He looked around the room as she talked. Only meeting her eyes again when she mentioned her parents. She never mentions her parents. 

He had no idea what this meant, Lila calling her mom for help. He never really knew her parents, and he doesn’t even know whether or not her mom would accept him. He’s a college guy who’s only 23, with no impressive family wealth or whatsoever. His only source of income is his freelancing job as a graphics artist, and on top of his university expenses, he has Grace to support. He wanted to help pay for Lila’s hospital bills, but she probably won’t like it. Besides, he’s going to shoulder Grace’s needs for quite some time, till Lila’s okay again. He hoped that would at least impress her mother.  “Are you, uhm, okay with your mom? If she’s going to come soon, I have to introduce myself at least.”

[gabeandrews]

“Yes you are tied with Julian, I couldn’t choose between the two of you, how could I possibly do that?” she giggled looking at him and shook her head, “No bribing anyone Gabe or you’ll lose your spot.” She stated looking over at Gabe and laughed, “But it’s a spoiler but fine. If you really must know, this book is a story of my life, a story about things I have gone through since joining Charlton. not exactly my name or friends names but if you read it you’ll figure out who your character is meant to be So basically you’re in the book and there are some great things in there so far about you.” She stated looking over at Gabe and smiled, “Exactly, I mean it’s kind of horrible and disgusting when people do so. I’ll never understand it. I hope so, I’ll let you know. Thank you.”

“What makes it so difficult to choose between the two of us? Is it because he’s dark-haired? Or that he’s good with his hands? You know sometimes I think his hands could easily carve Apollo’s face out of any clay he gets a hold of.” Gabe laughed, shamelessly making a comment that would probably make him sound gay. “Like an autobiography except it’s under the guise of a fictional story? Oooooh, this sounds cool. I’ve to be honest, I’ll probably just read my parts.” Gabe smiled at Kara then pinched her nose affectionately. “I always got your back. If a friend hurts you, they ain’t my friend anymore. Also, if you’re tired of carrying Grace, you can give her back to me. Don’t be shy to ask.”

[gabeandrews]

“There’s….worse things I could be doing, so yeah” he stated, ignoring eye contact to avoid getting deeper into that. He took a big water sip from his bottle. “But I think that was it for today.”

“Worse things like what?” He asked, curious. “What could be worse than working hard to get sweaty?” He grinned and offered his bag of chips. “Hungry? Least I could do is be of service to you, in terms of food, my friend.”

[karaxgreene]

She laughed, “I mean a few others are close to topping you, but Gabe, you’ll always bee number one, or maybe you’re tied with Julian.” She nodded looking at Gabe raising her eye brows and shock her head, “That’s still reading. And you know, if you knew what this story was about, you would have to read it. And I will not be happy if you don’t read my book.” She pouted looking at him as she followed him and took a seat as she looked up at him, “I know and I would never do that, I don’t know how people can do it. You really think that? You really think this will work out?”

[gabeandrews]

“I’m tied with Julian? Alright, who do I bribe to get ahead of him?” He joked. Knowing Kara, she wouldn’t be comfortable knowing people are fighting over her, or because of her. She’s the most introverted pacifist Gabe’s ever met, and it’s one of those opposites they have that made their friendship stronger. “Then tell me what it’s about! Practice your first ever press con on me. Convince me to buy and read your book. Come on.” He chuckled. “I don’t know how people can do it either. I mean, if you want to hook up with more than one lover, then don’t date. It’s as simple as that, yet people can’t seem to grasp its rules. Yeah, I think this will work out.” He nodded. He hoped this will work out. He wouldn’t know what to do if one of his closest friends broke his best friend’s heart.

[sweetdevoteddreamer-deactivated]

Aldebaran stopped and rolled his eyes. “I’m not showing off. I’m using both hands” 

[gabeandrews]

“Mate you could just do planking and it’s still showing off for me.” Gabe laughed and took a seat as he ate from his bag of Lay’s. “You do this everyday?”

[sergeantalexhudson-blog]

“Good to have your approval. No you don’t, besides, you’re the last person I’d want to end up in a fist fight in. Lila would never forgive me.” He shook his head, a chuckle not far behind. “Good man. You like me in green huh? That would be a sure way for her to identify me, and my uniform does allow a lot of movement so its not bad for playing either. Has a nice ring to it for sure.” Alex couldn’t say how Lila would react to that but, they were only kidding. In some way, he would always be tied to the army, both in her eyes and his own. Thinking of Cristina thought, frustration was evident on his features. “Two weeks ago she was. I told her I didn’t want us to see other people, and she agreed. And today its all ‘I can’t do this, I can’t give you what you deserve’..” 

[gabeandrews]

“Lila would never forgive us. We might never hear the end of it. And yes, sergeant. Green makes me think of pot but, I do like you in green. I think if you showed up one day looking like a Pearl Harbor hero, you’ll have girls and guys following you around, ogling your graciousness. But you’ll allow me to record your playtime with Grace, in your battlefield uniform, right? You know, for documentary purposes?” Documentary purposes, of course. Just because they aren’t family in the papers doesn’t mean they can’t be sentimental about a kid’s childhood. A few clips of this documentary might not have Lila in it, since she’s currently in the hospital, but it’s a nice to look back to. Gabe shook his head in disappointment when he heard what Alex’s problem was about. “So.. you’re supposed to be exclusive, because that’s what you both agreed on, and she just chickened out? Why can’t she give you what you deserve? What could be holding her back?”

[gabeandrews]

Reagan 📲 Gabe

Reagan: I've been trying to call Lila but I get no answer and she's never at her place, is everything okay?

Gabe: Thing is... she's in the hospital right now.

Gabe: She's fine. She's in one piece. But it's a difficult time for her.. I'm going to visit her after classes. You might wanna come along?

[rosanna-sc-blog]

The idea of Gabe running around the football field in his finest Calvin’s was…well, it was totally ludicrous. And also, totally hilarious.“I feel like that would be an image that would be burned into my brain” she snorted with laughter. “And also, something that totally needs to happen” she added a second later in between giggles, a wicked grin spreading across her face. She didn’t know how easy it would be to spike Gabe’s drink…but it couldn’t have been that difficult. And then, all she would have to do was let him loose on the football field, and steal his clothes. Easy. “I’m not going to tell you my tips. You’ll use them to be a boring dad and then you’ll find ways to entrap Grace so she has to listen to you ramble on about computers and things!” she told him outraged, all but for her warm ( and slightly smug ) grin. “I mean that would be borderline abuse” she nodded sagely, a look of innocence pasted across her face as the grin dropped.

Not that she would be leaning over Grace’s crib, whispering all of the best hiding places and weakest spots in the Charlton infrastructure. Maybe when she was a bit older, but it seemed a waste of energy to try and convert a baby. Besides, for all she knew, Gabe would be listening in on the baby monitor, scribbling down her secrets like those mad obsessives.

( Unlikely….but not impossible. )

“Hey don’t laugh at me” she pouted, poking him in the side, though when he dropped his secret hacking ability her face lit up and she practically began to hop on the spot with glee. She’d never need to attend another lecture, not if Gabe could fiddle with her grades. Not madly or anything, but enough so that she would keep any lecturers off her back when she preferred to sleep in as opposed to attend a 9am lecture. And anyway, whose idea was it to timetable in 9am lectures? It was pure madness. “Well that’s all I need” ( for now ). When he put his hand on her back, the pout was back. It wasn’t her fault that she had little legs. It made it difficult to keep up with his giant steps, and with him practically propelling her along, she was having to jog. “I’m-always-thinking-of-ways-to-get-rid-of-her” she puffed, jogging away. Talking and jogging was not her strong point. As they rounded the corner, she looked back over her shoulder. “I-think-we’re-good-now” she puffed, reaching a stand still. “Anyway, I mean, I’m not down for murder or anything like that, but someone did suggest getting all match makery on her. But that seems a lot of work. Do you have any ideas that will get rid of her then?”

[gabeandrews]

Looking at Rosie’s reaction to his joke, he felt a blush up his cheeks. A warm feeling creeping up his face. Like this was pre-Pregnant Lila stage all over again, when he hasn’t acknowledged his feelings for her. It’s different with Rosie though. She was adorable, funny, a bit too chatty sometimes ---alright, most of the time--- smart.... and she was probably first in line when God Almighty decided it’s a day to give away humility. Watching her face react to his joke about ‘running around in only his knickers’ made him shy for a few seconds. Someone this smart shouldn’t even be given such an image if Gabe had self-respect. As usual, Rosie easily turned a potential awkward conversation into a fun one and just like that, his shyness has gone out the window. “Oh no no no, you do not get to keep that image in that creative mind of yours. I’d like to stay ‘decently-dressed’ in there, thank you very much. It’s not gonna happen. You haven’t seen what’s inside this,” he tugged on his shirt. “and I’d like to keep it that way. And.. oh my god. If I ever become that kind of father, can you be my sponsor of some sort? Tell me off with that loud, tiny, pitchy voice of yours. Pull my ear if you have to. I feel like I’ll be talking about the characters of World of Warcraft soon as she’s old enough to recognize her dad’s voice.”

He didn’t realize he had made her jog till they rounded the corner. She seemed to catch her breath and Gabe couldn’t help but laugh some more because of it. He gave her a moment to rest, while he popped his head from behind a pillar as a look-out. No one in the corridors. No footsteps echoing down the hallways. They’re good for now. Rosie’s good for now. Looking back at her, he furrowed his brows and his lips were up on a lopsided grin. “Why’d you feel the need to say you’re not down for---do I look like I’m down for murder? If I do, then I may have just crossed an item off my bucketlist, thanks to you.” He chuckled before looking up at the ceiling for ideas. “Hang on, who do you really wanna get rid of? Gina? Or the entire lecture? Because if it’s only Gina, I can switch your name with another and I can get you assigned to a better and nicer professor. If it’s the entire lecture, I can put a passing grade on your record, then you won’t have to get up this early to attend a lecture anymore.”

[limitlessplaylist]

Visit Original Link

Nothing is perfect, but your imperfections are quaint Your love is worth it and for that I will wait….

[gabeandrews]

@lila-eaton

[lila-eaton]

When she wasn’t meeting with doctors or having group therapy sessions, more often than not she was here, in her room, lying in bed as though if she had the patience, she could will the medications to start working and just feel her mood lift instantly. She knew that wasn’t possible, but all the nurses kept shoving the idea of Art Therapy down her throat, as though she were a child, and didn’t just have one. so in a fit of stubbornness, she’d decided to just do nothing. Sometimes she’d secretly write letters like Dr. Rivkin suggested - because that seemed more useful that pictures - but other times, she’d just stare at the ceiling, thinking about what a complete and utter failure she was. This was one of those moments. 

But Gabe felt like a ray of sunshine, even muted through her heavy clouds, so when he came, she managed the closest thing to a smile she had all day. “Hi,” she closed her eyes against the sensation of his lips upon her forehead. “It’s fine. I’ve not really been all that hungry, and I’d probably only cry when the flowers inevitably died…” It was her typical sardonic humor, but twisted by her current darkness. She just considered it a win that at least she was being honest. She’d promised that to Gabe. She intended to keep it. 

[gabeandrews]

He didn’t know how to describe how she looked like. Should he begin with her physical appearance? Should he pay attention to the bags under her eyes (everyone in college has them anyway)? Should he mind that he could barely call that a smile, compared to the one she wore the first time she held Grace? School work kept Gabe from researching on whatever Lila’s going through, so it’s safe to say that he walked into the room unprepared. He only hoped that she’d excuse him for it, because he wasn’t here to diagnose her or lecture her or tell her how to get through this shit. He’s here because he had to see how she’s doing, he had to make sure she’s alright, he had to make sure she’s still herself. He had to see her.

Gabe chuckled softly. "But have you been eating properly?” He sat down, brushed his fingers on her hand, before looking back up at her. “Who... who got this room for you?” As far as Gabe knew, Maia doesn’t have a clue she’s in here. “Doesn’t it get lonely in here? Have they been taking good care of you? Do they serve you good food?” Questions started to flow out of his mouth, his protective feeling of her getting the better of him.

[karaxgreene]

“Well that means a lot and i am glad you are talking to me, I’d be offended if you weren’t. Oh of course you are at the top of the list.” She giggled, she knew Julian and Raph and Jared were all close to the top but he would always take the top spot. Rolling her eyes she sighed, “I will get you into reading, you’ll have to start reading to little Grace here at some point. Also I will make sure you read my book when it gets published otherwise you won’t get the dedication.” She nodded looking at him before sighing putting a hand through her hair, “Gabe, I don’t think I would be capable of cheating, it’s not something I like or could do. Well I know that. It’s just all so scary.”

[gabeandrews]

“Are you sure I’m at the top of the list? Is that the truth? Or are you only saying that because I’m the one asking?” He giggled along with her, as if he won’t be able to take it if she giggled at it alone. Gabe’s in good terms with the rest of her best friends anyway. Raph especially. “Kara, all I’ll have to read to her are bedtime stories! I still can’t be arsed to read novels. Oh no, I’m sorry. Once I get a copy of your book, I’m only keeping it to display in my living room. Without actually reading it. So please, please keep me in the dedication page!” He laughed before leading her to take a seat. Must be difficult to stand while carrying a newborn baby. “See? I know you’d never cheat. Not only because you’re not capable of doing it, you also don’t want to do it. That makes you special. if your relationship gets messed up, I don’t think it’d be your fault.” 

[gabeandrews]

They say it’s normal for new mommies. They told him it’s what they call the postpartum blues. It’s the first time Gabe’s heard of it, so maybe it really was the best thing that she had to check herself into the hospital. He wouldn’t know what to do, how to help her, how to be present the way he’s supposed to. Stepping into her room, he flashed her a smile. Because even though he felt helpless to see her in this state, he was happy to see her today. “Hey,” he walked slowly to her and leaned to place a kiss on her forehead. “I’m sorry I didn’t bring any food, any flowers, or any of those fancy stuff visitors bring in the movies.” @lila-eaton

[gabeandrews]

Text || Gabe 📲 Lila

Lila: Thank you.

Lila: I'm so sorry Gabe.

Lila: I do want to see you if you're still interested...

Gabe: No need to be sorry, Lila. I know if this could easily be avoided, you wouldn't be there right now.

Gabe: Give me 15 minutes tops.