I opened the door, walked in and closed it quietly behind me.  It had been a long day at school, followed by a long meeting in Cassie's barn.  It seemed there was always some mission in the planning.  I was glad to finally be home.  As tired as I was, I didn't even notice her as I shuffled past the family room on my way to my room.  Only when I heard her voice calling me did I look up.

"Grandma! What are you doing here? No one told me you were coming."

"My have you grown.  Come over here boy so I can look you in the eyes."  My mind went back to the last time I had seen grandma, a year ago.

"My have you grown.  Come over here boy so I can look you in the eyes."  I approached her cautiously keeping my eyes on the floor.  Grandma's piercing gaze gave me the willies.

"Look at me boy."

I looked up into her icy blue eyes.  Her gaze sent shivers up my spine.  Suddenly she broke away and said sweetly, "Dear boy come give me a hug and sit here on my lap.  I have something to show you."  After her initial appraisal she always reverted to the sweet pampering grandmother, treating me like a baby.

"But Grandma! I'm 12 years old. I'm not a kid anymore." Twelve year olds didn't sit in peoples' laps.  Only babies did things like that.

"Oh, but you are.  It's all written in your eyes.  You've still the eyes of a child."

"Grandma!"

I looked grandma straight in the eyes as I approached her.  They no longer seemed as threatening as they once had.  Instead they seemed soft and comforting.  I felt a certain desire to curl up in her arms, as if she could protect me from the world.  Still looking me in the eyes, she said in a sad voice, "My poor boy, you're not a child anymore.  You've grown up.  It's all in your eyes." 

I ran to her and gave her a big hug.  "Oh, grandma, I love you," I whispered.  I didn't let go for a long time.  Her arms were so comforting.  All these years I had wanted to grow up, to be considered a grown up.  Now that I was no longer a child, I wanted to go back.

AN: I would like to thank Mousie who wrote the wonderful fic "The Stalker" which served as an inspiration for this fic.