This is the final chapter. For real, lol. And, as promised, Eric and Georgia's talk...the whole chapter is the two of them. Thanks so much for reading this little story. I was a little nervous about posting it since it does leap so far into the future and more or less gives you the ultimate endings for the characters, but I suppose you don't know how they get there and that will be the fun in reading the sequel to Where You Least Expect It (it's coming very soon). :-)

This started out as just a little way to get my feet wet with writing/editing again after being so sick for a while but I really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. I'm not ruling out the possibility of another short story or two along this similar time frame in the future.

As always, thanks for following along and sticking with me in this unusual alternate universe with our favorite unlikely couple. :-)

Eric wasn't sure if it was the nightmare or the sudden, sharp pain in his abdomen that startled him out of his sleep, but one minute he was lying down and the next he was upright, holding his stomach. At first he believed the discomfort to be a reaction to the dream, but when he looked down there were small feet resting in his lap. When had Rosie climbed into bed with him and Angela? Didn't he put her back into her own bed a few hours ago?

When he and Angela came inside Lucia had been finishing up the dishes and said that Georgia had been in bed the whole time. They were skeptical, having been pretty sure they saw two shadows from the yard, but didn't push it. It had been a long night for everyone and they all needed some sleep. That was proving to be easier said than done, however. The visions he'd had of his car when he closed his eyes paled in comparison to what he just saw in his nightmare. He eased out of bed. Further attempts to sleep would be useless at this point.

On his way downstairs he stopped at both rooms occupied by his daughters. That wasn't unusual, but tonight he needed extra reassurance that the girls were safe in their beds. Sidda was spread out like a starfish, taking up every available inch of mattress- save for the corner occupied by her cat. Eric briefly wondered why she was wearing her rain boots and a tutu, but decided some things were better off being mysteries. When he came to Georgia and Lucia's room he carefully opened the door, wincing as it creaked. He sighed in relief when he saw both girls asleep. The only thing that was different was that they were sleeping with their heads at the foot of their beds. They only did that when there was some serious talking going on before they went to sleep. He could only imagine how that went. He was glad, however, that they were close enough to talk about big stuff, especially when they were in trouble. He and Cory were about the girls' ages when they started drifting apart. It was no one's fault. Eric had just outgrown his little brother for a while in his pursuit of the opposite sex. They came back around though. Still, he hoped Georgia and Lucia were able to avoid that, even if it was a natural part of being siblings and growing up.

/

He was watching some disaster program on the weather channel when he heard someone coming down the stairs. He assumed it was Angela coming to see what happened to him, but when he looked up Georgia was standing there. It was quite obvious that she had been crying. "Georgia?"

"Hi."

"Are you okay?"

She still found it difficult to look him in the eye. "Uh-huh."

"You sure about that?"

She started to nod, but the rogue tear that fell down her cheek gave her away. "Not so much, no." It wasn't long before more tears and sniffles followed. "I'm sorry about your car."

"I know. You want to talk about it?"

"If you don't hate me, sure."

Eric never wanted to hear those words come out of his daughter's mouth again. He turned off the television and switched on a lamp before he got up and walked over to her. "I'm angry. I'm not going to lie. This probably ranks somewhere in my top ten angriest moments, but I don't hate you. I love you. You are my firstborn, my baby girl. My life changed forever the moment mom told me she was pregnant and I knew you existed. I can get even sappier if you want, but I need to save something for your birthday."

She chuckled. "That's okay."

"So, you see…no hate. It's impossible. Do you get that?"

"Yeah."

"Can we hug it out or are you at that, 'Ew, gross, my dad totally has cooties,' stage?" He took a few steps backward and had the wind knocked out of him when Georgia threw her arms around him. "So, I guess I don't have cooties yet," he asked as he returned the hug. When did she get so tall? He didn't remember Georgia being this tall.

"No, no cooties."

"That's a relief. I'd hate to be docked cool points. They keep track of those at all the dad meetings." She nodded against his shoulder. "I know I'm not ready to go back to sleep. Are you?"

"Not really."

"Great." He slung an arm across her shoulders and led her to the kitchen. "We have so much to talk about. Sit down."

Georgia did as she was told and parked herself at the table. She was only half paying attention as he moved around the room and grabbed various things from cabinets, drawers, and the fridge. When he brought the giant mixing bowl and serving spoons to the table all she could think about was how upset Bear would be about the dishes. "Dad, what is this?"

"It hasn't been that long, has it?" Eric ripped open the new box of cereal and dumped at least half of it into the bowl before adding the milk. "Chocolate syrup," he asked, holding up a bottle.

"Is that even a question? If we're going to do this we need to do it right."

"That's my girl." He added a generous serving of syrup to the chocolatey cereal. "Too much?"

"Never."

They ate in silence for a while. Eric didn't even know where to begin. Did he express his disappointment? Did he attempt to relate to her with his own tales of teenaged stupidity? Did he yell? There was still a part of him that really, really wanted to yell at her. "Look, Georgia, I know you're at an age where your brain cells get knocked around by goofy, crazy hormones and you're also half me so the goofy and crazy probably doubles or triples- but what the hell were you thinking? When did taking the car before you got your license seem like a good idea?"

"I've had a lot of practice driving. I didn't think driving at night would be that different. All I could think about was finding out if Trevor was with another girl."

"Did I ever tell you that I failed my driving test the first time I took it?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, I passed the written but failed driving before I even started. I thought the drunk father of one of the other test takers was a DMV worker. He waved me forward, so I went."

"What happened?"

"I think I blocked most of it out. It's kind of a blur of cones flying and my friend Jason yelling at me and calling me an idiot."

"Ouch. Did grandma and grandpa understand it was just a mistake?"

"I'm sure they probably would've if I told them right away…or if that was the end of the story."

"What do you mean? What happened next?"

"You see, me and Jason…we had big plans that night. I was supposed to ace my test, get my license, and he had scored us a couple hot dates who would be very impressed with me and my car."

"Ah."

"In my defense I tried to tell grandpa the second I got home, but he kept going on about how big a deal driving was and how proud he was of me- he even handed me his car keys." Eric stirred the soggy cereal around in the bowl. "Combine that with Jason yacking in my ear about the dates and I choked. I didn't want to let my dad or my friend down."

"You must've really cared about the girl and wanted to go out on this date to go to all that trouble."

"Honestly, no. I can't remember what her name was and don't know if she was blonde or brunette. If my life depended on it I couldn't pick her out of a lineup."

"Oh. Did you get caught?"

"Oh, I was so busted. Dummy me accidentally parked in a handicap space and got the car towed. Then I couldn't get it out because I didn't have a license. So I had to call Feeny."

"Why him?"

"My parents were out somewhere and he was baby-sitting Cory, Shawn and Morgan. You know that picture of him in the fancy hat and earrings having a tea party with Morgan? It was from that night."

Georgia laughed. "How did he react when you called?"

He thought back to that night in the tow shop so many years ago. "Actually, he was pretty cool about the whole thing until he found out I lied about having my license. After that…he yelled at me and sent me to my room."

"For real?"

"For real."

She tried to picture his reaction to her stunt tonight, almost able to see his disappointment. It wasn't pretty. "What was your punishment?"

"I was grounded for a couple weeks and then when I finally got my license the only driving I was allowed to do was run errands or drive your Uncle Cory and Aunt Morgan wherever they wanted to go."

"I hope you're not getting tips from grandma and grandpa."

"Considering what happened tonight it's going to be a while before you're driving without an adult in the car even after you get your license, so no, not quite."

"You're still letting me get my license?"

"Eventually, but not as soon as you planned. I think we all agree you need more practice driving at night."

"How far away is not as soon as I planned?" Considering the nightmare she'd had that drove her downstairs, Georgia wasn't sure she even wanted her license anymore. Still, there was a difference between not wanting something and your parents forbidding you from having it.

"Mom and I talked about it a little before we went to bed and if you don't have any more accidents you can drive yourself to your first college class."

Her jaw dropped. "Dad, that's two years! My permit will expire at least-"

He laughed at her panic. "I'm kidding. We'll wait a few months and then see how things go, okay?"

"That seems fair."

"We also decided not to get the insurance company involved since the damage to the car seems pretty minor. Our rates are going to be jacked up enough adding a teenager to the plan. We don't need an accident on top of it." He rolled his eyes. "I feel so old talking about insurance rates."

Georgia stared at the bowl of what was now primarily chocolate milk. "Have I mentioned enough that I'm sorry about the car?"

"I don't care about the car, not really."

"You don't? But at the garage you were talking to it and everything."

"Okay, so I care a little, but it wasn't what upset me. The car…it was a symbol."

"A symbol of what?"

"Do you know how many news broadcasts I've sat through waiting to do weather and have had to listen to reports about car accidents?"

"No."

"Too many. Sometimes people come out of it okay, but a lot of times they don't. When I got to the garage I might have been looking at the car but I was seeing everything that could've happened to you." Eric shook his head. "I'm still seeing it every time I close my eyes. You got so lucky tonight, Georgia." He cleared his throat. "You're too young to appreciate how lucky. You, your mom, your sisters- nothing means more to me than you. I know life's a crapshoot and we never know what's going to happen, but the thought of losing you guys or you getting hurt and me not being able to protect you…that's my worst nightmare. Tonight felt like I was given just a glimpse of hell."

"I'm sorry, daddy," she whispered, blinking back fresh tears. "I promise I'll never do anything like this again."

"I hope so."

"You don't believe me?"

"I believe that you mean it right now, but I've also been a teenager. Stuff happens."

"Dad, I know I screwed up bigtime, but does one mistake erase almost sixteen years of being a good, trustworthy person?"

"No, but it also doesn't mean that you don't have to earn our trust back either. This is going to take time."

"Mom pretty much said the same thing."

"Yeah, well, mom's smart."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"If you did something dumb with grandpa's car and mom stole an army jeep, why are you guys so surprised I took your car? Isn't it a given that I would pull something like this? It's practically my birthright."

"Birthright? Easy there, Simba. I hoped you would be smarter than we were."

"Maybe you should've told me the stories as a warning."

"I thought they'd send the wrong message and encourage you." He moved to a chair closer to his daughter. "Can I ask you something else now?"

"Okay."

"Do I need to go kick Trevor's ass?"

Georgia burst out laughing. "Dad!"

"I'm serious. I'll do it. You know I will. Just say the word." She didn't answer immediately. "You do realize I take that silence as permission, right? I'll round everyone up, go to his house, and-"

"Everyone who?"

"Everyone everyone…face it, Georgia, you've had a whole army of people willing to kick ass for you since the day you were born. All we were missing was a target. Now we have one."

"As sweet as that is, dad, I don't think you'll look very tough picking on a sixteen year old boy."

"Fine, then I'll go beat up his dad for raising the kid that hurt my kid."

"You're crazy."

"What if I send in Sidda? You know how much the girl loves her karate lessons."

She had to admit the visual image in her head was quite amusing. And Sidda was up for any reason to use her beginners' skills outside of class. "I'll get back to you on that one." Georgia covered her mouth in an attempt to hide her yawn, but wasn't successful.

"Bed time."

"No, not yet, dad, please? I can't."

"Why?"

"I…I can't go to bed without knowing my punishment." She was going to be sixteen in a week and a half. That was far too old to be whining to her daddy about nightmares, especially when they were caused by her own poor choices. "I can't handle the suspense."

"That's not what's bothering you." She said nothing. Eric put his hand on her arm. "Georgia, what is it?"

"I'm afraid of having another dream! That's what made me come down here in the first place- I had a bad dream."

"About what happened tonight?"

She nodded. "Yeah, only ten times worse. I was in the car and behind the wheel, but I wasn't in control. It was like it had a mind of its own." She covered her face. "I was crashing into everything…and everybody. And it was all people I love. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't stop it."

"That does sound scary. I know when I first started driving I had dreams where-"

"Dad, I really don't want to talk about the dream. I just want to forget it. Tell me about my punishment."

"Like I said earlier, we don't know what exactly it will be yet, not all of it anyway. We only discussed bits and pieces."

"Could you tell me the bits and pieces you and mom agreed on?"

"You can find out in the morning. Be up and ready to leave by 7:45."

"Why? That's just a few hours away."

"I need to get a replacement tire and the shop opens at eight."

"Okay." She didn't exactly have room to argue.

"The cabs we'll be taking are coming out of your allowance."

"Fine."

"And one we get to the garage you're going to put the tire on."

Georgia's eyes grew wide. "What? Dad, I don't know how to do that."

"Then I guess it's a good thing you're learning. Everyone should know how to change a tire. I think I'm due for an oil change, too. I'll talk you through it."

"Oil change? Like, I have to get under the car?"

"Yep."

"Gross."

"And then after that-"

"There's an after that?"

"You took my car without permission and then you broke it- all without your license. We're just getting started."

Georgia slumped down in her chair. "I'm guessing this is all on top of however long I'll be grounded for?"

"Me and mom still need to talk that part out, but don't make plans on the weekends any time in the near future though."

"Between this and Trevor, my junior year will be off to a running start."

"Anyway, like I started to say, you know that hunk of metal your grandpa just bought and swears somewhere underneath the crud and bad paint job is a classic 1970 Chevelle?"

"What is that, some type of car?"

"Not just any car, the car of grandpa's dreams. He mentioned not too long ago he'd love to have someone help him restore it."

"Oh, no..."

Eric grinned at his daughter. "Yes!"

"Dad, that...that thing doesn't even have wheels on it."

"You can make sure he puts the wheels on since you did just win yourself a top spot as grandpa's little helper." He reached out and pinched her cheek.

"Gee, is that what my shirt is going to say?"

"It will now."

"But-"

"I'm calling him first thing in the morning. He's going to be thrilled."

"Dad-"

"No, Georgia, can you think of a better way there is for you to learn about cars, how they work, and how to respect them?"

"I don't know," she grumbled.

"Plus you know how much this kind of stuff means to grandpa. Maybe I'll even recruit Lucia, too, make it even more special for the old man. In fact-" He snapped his fingers. "I got it. Your T-shirts will say Grandpa's Pit Crew."

"Daaaaad..." She laid her head on the table.

"I'll even buy you matching hats."

"My life is over."

"I swear he's going to think it's his birthday. No, his birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the start of camping season all rolled into one!"

She groaned in frustration. "Why can't you just refuse to ever let me out of the house and drive again like any normal father would do?"

"Call me a normal father one more time and we'll see what happens." The changing numbers on the microwave caught his eye and Eric realized it was after two in the morning. "We should probably try to get at least a few hours of sleep."

"I don't know if I can. What if I have another dream?"

She'd voiced his unspoken fear. Going back to sleep petrified him. "Get a pillow and blanket and meet me in the living room."

"What?"

"Just do it. Meet me at the couch in five minutes."

Georgia eyed him cautiously, but did as she was told. She wasn't in a position to do otherwise. "If you say so."

Four minutes and fifty-two seconds later she was in the living room with her pillow and blanket and found her father fixing up half of the sectional for himself. "Dad, what are you doing?"

"Look, Georgia, I'm not going to pretend to be one of those dads that knows what they're doing all of the time, or even most of the time...some of- hell, I'm winging it nine times out of ten."

"If it means anything I've never been able to tell. I've always thought you were pretty cool, definitely better than my friends' dads."

"You know flattering me won't get you out of grandpa's garage, right?"

"I do now." She sighed. "I meant it though. You've always been a cool, fun dad."

"Thank you, but I still don't know what I'm doing. You and your sisters didn't come with instructions. And now there are boys and cars and a million other things that make me wish I had a time machine and could make you Rosie's age again." Eric took a seat on the couch. "Things were easier. Your problems weren't so big. I knew how to fix them...or at least I knew how to bullshit my way through it without you catching on and seeing I'm a fraud."

"You're not a fraud, but I'm growing up."

"I know."

"A giant bowl of Cocoa Puffs isn't going to fix everything anymore."

"That didn't stop you from eating it."

"I said it wouldn't fix things, not that it didn't help." She yawned and rested her head against his shoulder. "Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are we on the couch again?"

"Oh, right. Well, you know the part about me not knowing anything?"

"That's not exactly true, but okay."

"I think one thing I've always been pretty good at was dealing with bad dreams and keeping monsters away."

"What, did you get some Monster-Be-Gone spray," she asked with a laugh.

He smiled at the memory of the little spray bottle filled with water and glitter. For a while after Lucia was born Georgia was convinced there were monsters in her room. Every night he and Angela would have to go on a monster hunt before putting her to bed. Some nights he'd end up sleeping in her room. In reality she was feeling replaced as the baby in the family and subconsciously seeking extra attention and reassurance. At least that's how his parents put it. "No, I didn't think to make any."

"I suppose it wouldn't work when the monsters are your own dumb mistakes, right?"

"We've all been there." He kissed the top of her head. "But what I meant was I can't fix everything, but maybe I can help us both get some sleep tonight. And, well...the couch definitely beats me sleeping on your floor armed with Monster-Be-Gone and a baseball bat. Hand me the remote."

She passed it to him. "Oh, I get it. Tonight TV is our Monster-Be-Gone."

"It is for me. How else do you think I'm able to go to sleep at night after spending my evenings in a newsroom listening to all of the horrible things going on in the world?"

Georgia had never thought of her dad's job as being stressful before tonight. He reported the weather. So long as it wasn't stormy how bad could it be? "I don't know."

"We'll just watch funny reruns until we fall asleep."

"And that will work?" She moved to the other end of the couch and lie down.

"Why else do you think they have so many sitcoms on at this time?" Eric flipped through the channels until he found an episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air that fit the mindless brain candy bill needed for the night. "Ooh, here we go. It's the one where they film the music video in the living room when Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv are out of town. Light and fun." When she didn't respond he looked over and saw that she was already asleep. At least he was still good at chasing her monsters away. That was one small victory. He raised the volume slightly and sank deeper into the couch. Maybe the monsters would leave him to rest soon, too.