AN: Here we go- I made this one a little early since I've been late the past few times in posting :) This chapter is ALL Gabriel, next one will have more of the 'crew' back again. We hope you enjoy Lav's character in this part and please don't forget to let us know what you think!!
And to all our American readers- Happy 4th of July!
Gabriel looked around in awe at his father's set. This action film was going to be amazing, he could tell just by the looks of things.
"I can't believe you work here every day!" he exclaimed. "This place is incredible!"
Seamus grinned at his son. "I've got you a clearance pass that lets you anywhere- except the actor's trailers and dressing rooms obviously. I want you to feel comfortable. Help yourself to anything on the catering table if you get hungry all right?"
"Okay," Gabriel said nodding.
"I need to go and run something over with one of the producers, but I'm going to have one of my assistants come over and show you around," Seamus said. "You'll be okay on your own, right?"
"Yeah I'll be all right," Gabriel replied. "I'm a big boy."
Seamus laughed. "I'm really glad you're here, Gabe."
"Thanks," Gabriel grinned broadly. "Oh um... think I could at least meet Laurie Hoffman today?"
"I think that can be arranged," Seamus said with a grin.
"Awesome," Gabriel said excitedly. "Thanks Dad."
"You bet," Seamus said clapping his son on the back before heading off to meet with the producer.
Gabriel walked over to the catering table and started piling some food on his plate.
"You should try the croissants," someone said from behind him. "The chocolate chip ones are to die for."
"Oh," Gabriel said. "Thanks..."
He looked over his shoulder to see petite, young woman with her brown hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. She carried an official looking clipboard and wore a pass around her neck. "You must be Seamus' son. I'm Sasha, one of his beck and call girls."
"Oh... he said one of his assistants would come over to show me around," Gabriel said in relief.
Sasha smiled. "You mind if I have a quick bite too before we have the grand tour?"
"Not at all," Gabriel sat down. "I'm pretty hungry too."
"Great," Sasha said piling her own plate with some pastries and fresh fruit. She joined Gabriel at the table. "Seamus was telling us you were from California."
"Yeah," he nodded. "Pasadena, although I grew up near Sacramento."
Sasha nodded and took a bite of her croissant. "And how are you liking London?"
"It's great," Gabriel nodded. "I've been in Brighton with my step mom for the past week."
"Lavender," Sasha nodded. "She can be a bit much, can't she?"
"Yeah but she's fantastic," Gabriel said honestly.
Sasha looked at him inquisitively over her coffee cup. "That's great that you're able to get along. You know a lot of us know how hard it was for Seamus that she didn't want to have children..."
"They told me they were just busy," Gabriel bit into an apple.
Sasha shrugged. "We all thought it was because she wasn't very maternal."
"She's been a great stepmother to me," Gabriel said in Lavender's defence. "I like her a lot."
Sasha smiled. "I think that's great. I didn't mean anything by it, Gabriel. Honestly, I didn't. And the other day when she was at the set, she was bragging about you."
"She was?" Gabriel smiled. "Really?"
"All about how her stepson was going to be a great doctor someday," Sasha related to the young man. "And how you've managed to fit right in with the whole family."
"Everyone's been fantastic." Gabriel nodded.
"So how long are you here for?" Sasha asked conversationally.
"The summer," Gabriel answered.
"And you're having fun so far?" Sasha asked.
"I really like England," Gabriel said. "My dad told me he's going to take me up to Scotland before I go home too."
"You'll love it up there," Sasha said.
"I'm sure I will," Gabriel looked around as a few other people came to the table.
"So tell me about yourself," Sasha said reaching across the table and touching his arm.
"I'm going to be a doctor," Gabriel replied. "I start studying at USC this fall."
"Wow," Sasha said impressed. "No wonder Seamus and Lav were so proud."
Gabriel smiled. "I live with my grandparents but I'm moving onto campus."
"What made you want to become a doctor?" she asked.
The smile on his face dropped. "My mum was sick," he said quietly. "And even though I want to work with children, I just want to help people get better."
"That's really amazing," Sasha said patting his arm sympathetically. "Seamus never said much about your mother. What was she like?"
"She was amazing," Gabriel said. "She was like a best friend almost."
"And she never married?" Sasha asked. "After she broke things off with your dad?"
"No," Gabriel shook his head. "She told me she wanted to focus all her attention on raising me."
"She sounds like an amazing woman," Sasha said after taking a sip of her coffee.
"She was," Gabriel nodded sadly.
"If it's too hard for you to talk about---" Sasha started to say.
"It's okay," Gabriel replied. "I'm fine..."
"And you never knew who your real father was?" Sasha asked.
"Not until recently," Gabriel suddenly started to feel nervous. Hadn't his father explained all this to his assistants?
Sasha looked at her watch. "How about we get started on that tour? I'm sure you want to catch up with your dad before lunch..."
"That'd be great," Gabriel threw his paper plate into the trash can.
"I know a little bit of what you're going through," Sasha said softly as she threw away her plate. "I was adopted."
"You were?" he asked interestedly.
She nodded. "Found out when I was thirteen. I always suspected something was different, you know? I didn't resemble my mum or my dad. One day, I was in the attic helping my mum with some old things and I found my birth certificate."
"What did you do?" Gabriel asked.
"I was so angry," Sasha said as a tear fell down her cheek. "All my life, they'd lied to me. I holed myself up in my room and refused to speak to them."
"I'm really sorry," Gabriel said. "I was mad at my dad but I knew it wasn't his fault."
"I wonder why your mum didn't tell him," Sasha mused as she wiped at her eyes.
"Guess I'll never find out," he replied.
"That's a shame," Sasha said thoughtfully. "All this time that you missed out on having a dad."
"Better late than never," Gabriel shrugged. "That's what my grandmother told me."
"But you have to be a little angry," Sasha said. "I never had the chance to meet my birth mum. She died in a car crash and no one knows where or who my father was."
"I was," Gabriel corrected. "But I talked it out with my dad and Lavender. Things are a lot better now."
"How about we get started then?" Sasha said grabbing her clipboard from the table. "We have a lot of ground to cover."
She hoped that as they took the tour, the young man would open up to her more.
"Sure," Gabriel stuffed his hands in his pockets after putting the ID tag his father had given him around his neck.
In his trailer, Seamus was going over some last minute details with one of his assistants. "Robin, I thought you were going to show Gabe around."
"I was," she replied. "But Laurie needed me to help her run lines. One of the extras volunteered to show him around."
Seamus stared at her. "Oh, I was really hoping you'd do it..."
"Sorry Seamus," Robin said sheepishly. "I thought you'd want me to help Laurie so we could stay on schedule."
Seamus nodded. "It's okay, Robin. The girl showing him around...she knows that I want him to meet me at my trailer after this morning's filming, right?"
"I made sure to have Hugh tell her," Robin assured him.
"Good," Seamus said feeling better. He wanted today to go well and he wanted to make sure his son felt at home here. "He's really a good kid, Robin."
"I'm sure he is," Robin smiled. "I'm really happy for you Seamus. I know how you wanted kids... I know Lav wanted kids too."
"I'm having my lawyer draw up papers," Seamus said a smile playing on his lips. "Lav and I want to officially adopt him."
"How wonderful!" Robin exclaimed.
"Don't say anything to him," Seamus said. "It's going to be a surprise. We're going to tell him at the end of the summer."
"My lips are sealed," Robin said with a grin.
"I still have to talk about it with his grandparents," Seamus said sitting down. "Make sure they're okay with it."
"I'm sure they'll appreciate that," Robin picked up a pile of scripts.
"Sam's dad never really cared that much for me," Seamus said. "I don't know how he'd feel about it, to tell you the truth. He thought I was too old for his daughter."
"But if you'll let him be part of their life, I don't see how they'll protest." Robin said.
"I hope not," Seamus said thoughtfully. "Margaret likes me, though. And she was the one who convinced Gabe to give me a chance, so hopefully she's going to work on Lewis for me."
"I'm sure you'll be fine," Robin said reassuringly.
Seamus smiled. "Well, I think we'd best get on set. Time to switch to dictator mode."
"I'll go warn the masses," Robin joked.
He chuckled as he followed her out of the trailer. "I hope the rain holds off for awhile."
"I hope so too," Robin replied. "Otherwise we're going to have to switch to the indoor set."
"And you haven't mentioned Bruce today," Seamus said quickening his pace. "Please tell me he's gotten over his mood swing..."
"I'll keep not mentioning him," Robin replied.
Seamus sighed. "That's all I need. You know I was against casting him, but the studio insisted."
"I know," Robin patted his shoulder. "I'll see what I can do."
As Seamus watched her go, he caught sight of his son walking with a younger woman. They looked deep in conversation.
"Who is that?" he asked. "You said she's one of the extras?"
Robin turned around and followed Seamus' gaze. "Yes, she's young and she volunteered..."
"I've just never seen her before," Seamus replied. "And I hand pick all my extras, you know that."
"She's been around since the first day of filming, Seamus," Robin said. "And they seem to be getting along..."
"All right," Seamus said, still watching for another few moments. "Let's go see what we can do about getting Bruce out of his trailer... he's such a pain in my ass."
A few hours later, Sasha led Gabriel to Seamus' trailer.
"Doesn't look as if your dad's back from the set yet," she said after peering inside. "Shall we wait for him then?"
"Sure," Gabriel replied. "I still can't believe how huge this place is."
"The set or your dad's trailer?" Sasha teased.
"Both," Gabriel said with a grin.
Sasha looked at her watch. "I really should get going. It was really great getting to know you, Gabe. I can't tell you how much it meant to me."
"It was nice talking to you as well," Gabriel shook her hand politely. "You don't want to wait around for my dad?"
"I can't," she apologised. "I have something I really need to do. But, I'm sure I'll see you again."
"Great," he nodded. "See you soon."
Sasha grinned at him as she walked out the door.
Gabriel settled back into a comfortable armchair while he waited for his father to return. He briefly thought about ringing his grandparents but one look at his watch told him it was too early back in California to do so.
The door to the trailer swung open and Gabriel nearly jumped out of his seat. He had never seen his father look so angry.
"Something wrong, Dad?" Gabriel asked.
"Damn that Bruce Green," Seamus fumed. "He's knocked me an entire day behind schedule! I don't care how popular that wanker is, I cannot stand working with him!"
"What did he do?" Gabriel asked.
"He's just a bloody... stupid..." Seamus struggled for the right words. "He's going to drive me to alcoholism, that's what he's doing!"
Gabriel found this quite funny, but he didn't dare laugh. "You could always use your magic on him, Dad."
"He's a Muggle," Seamus muttered.
"So you can't," Gabriel said with a frown. "There's so many rules..."
"Yeah but they're for the best," Seamus was reaching for a beer, but decided on a soda instead. "Can you imagine what it would be like if everyone knew about magic?"
"Good for the Bruce Greens of this world," Gabriel said hoping to get his dad to smile.
Seamus finally cracked a grin. "So how'd you like your tour?"
"It was great," Gabriel said. "This place is huge, Dad. And Sasha was really great."
"Sasha..." Seamus narrowed his eyes. "What was her last name? I'm trying to remember her."
"I don't think she ever told me," Gabriel replied.
"I guess it's all right," Seamus said. "Long as you enjoyed yourself, that's all I wanted."
"I did," Gabriel said smiling at his father. "I'm really looking forward to seeing you in action this afternoon."
"As Lav calls it, my tyrant mode," Seamus laughed.
"She warned me," Gabriel said.
There was another knock on the door and then Robin came in. She was carrying a file that she handed to Seamus.
"These are from your lawyer," she said.
"Thanks," Seamus said, putting the file on his desk.
"What's that for?" Gabriel asked curiously.
"Just some legal issues," Seamus replied. "Nothing for you to worry about."
"Oh... for the movie?" Gabriel asked.
"Aye," Seamus said skimming over the file's contents. "Robin----could I have a quick word?"
"Of course," Robin smiled at Gabriel as Seamus pulled her aside.
"I'm going back to California tonight so I can talk with Gabe's grandparents," Seamus said. "I want to make sure that this is all okay with them before I have my lawyer finalise things."
"Right," she nodded. "Don't you think perhaps you should tell him what you're doing?"
"You think I should take him back with me?" Seamus asked. Robin had been with him almost as long as Taryn and he trusted her completely.
Robin nodded. "He seems like quite a sensible young man Seamus, not to mention what you looked like when you first arrived on the scene. There's no doubt he's your son and I think he would like to know what your plans are- especially since they revolve around him."
"Right," Seamus said. "Thanks, Robin."
"Where would you be without me?" she joked.
"In prison for murdering Bruce," Seamus said dryly.
Robin laughed. "I'll give you the alibi."
Seamus grinned. "Can you set up transportation for us?"
"Sure," Robin smiled.
"Thanks," Seamus said before heading back to his son. "Gabe, how would you feel about going back to LA for a couple of hours?"
Gabriel gave his father a strange look. "Go back for a couple of hours?"
Seamus nodded. "I have something I wanted to talk about with your grandparents and you. And with magic, we can get there in a few minutes as opposed to another 10-hour flight."
"Really?" Gabriel asked. "I can use magic?"
"In a way yes," Seamus replied. "We'll be going by portkey. A portkey is an enchanted object like an old book that can be used to transport people to different locations. Robin's setting one up for us."
"Cool," Gabriel said. "And I'll be able to see my grandparents? What are we going back there for? How long are we staying?"
"For just a little while," Seamus answered. "And if you don't mind, I'd love for Lavender to come too."
"Sure," Gabriel nodded.
"Great," Seamus said smiling at him. "I'm really looking forward to this, Gabe."
"It's just LA," Gabriel said confusedly.
"It's much more than that, son," Seamus said. "I don't want to get into it now, but it's something that Lavender and I both want very much."
"Get into what?" Gabriel followed his father out of the trailer.
"We need to get on set," Seamus said evasively. "You'll find out tonight. I promise."
"All right," Gabriel replied slowly.
The rest of the afternoon passed by fairly quickly. True to his word, Seamus managed to introduce the film's leading lady, Laurie Hoffman, to a flustered Gabriel. And Gabriel was impressed with how his father directed his actors, his crew and everything on set.
"I think having you here helped keep him out of tyrant mode," Laurie teased Gabriel as the day ended.
Gabriel blushed deeply. "Yeah he didn't seem to be too bad today."
"I hope you'll be back," Laurie said pecking him on the cheek.
Gabriel turned even more red. "I'll definitely come back," he said, his stomach fluttering madly.
Laurie winked at him before sauntering off to her trailer.
"She's way too old for you," Lavender teased tapping her stepson on the shoulder.
"She's even prettier in person," Gabriel gazed after her.
"I get that too," Lavender said brushing her hair over her shoulder.
Gabriel smiled at his stepmother. "Dad told me we're going back to LA tonight."
"I can't wait," Lavender said grinning back at him. "I'm really looking forward to meeting your grandparents."
"I think they'll like you," Gabriel told her.
"I hope so," Lavender said. Impulsively, she gave her stepson a big hug. "I'm so glad you're part of our family, Gabe!"
Gabriel hugged her back. "Thanks- thanks for making me feel at home. I know it was really hard for you when I first came in."
Lavender sniffed. "Yes, it was, but we found some common ground and you're just the best, Gabriel."
"What's this, a family moment you couldn't include me on?" Seamus teased.
"We were just talking," Lavender said sharing a secret smile with her husband. "And I think your son has a big crush..."
"On Laurie or Alexa?" Seamus asked.
"Dad!" Gabriel turned red again.
"Well, it's true," Seamus said with a grin.
"She was full of questions today about you," Lavender said nudging Gabriel.
"Laurie Hoffman was asking about me?" Gabriel asked. "Really?"
Lavender giggled. "No, not Laurie. A certain red-haired girl...."
"Why was Alexa asking about me?" Gabriel said, secretly pleased at this news. "I thought RJ was around."
"He went fishing or something with his brothers," Lavender replied. "And I took Saffy and Alexa shopping and we might have had some girl talk..."
"Which you most likely don't want to know about," Seamus interjected dryly.
"He might want to know that she thinks he's quite cute," Lavender said in a sing-song voice.
"She's got a boyfriend," Gabriel said. "She's already made that pretty clear."
Lavender shrugged and waved her hand dismissively.
"On that note," Seamus said. "How about we head to my trailer so we can get out of here?"
"Sure," Gabriel agreed. "I can't wait to travel by magic."
"Portkey travel can be a little unsettling at first," Lavender cautioned.
"What's it like?" Gabriel was curious.
"Kind of hard to explain," Lavender said thoughtfully. "But you touch the portkey and you feel as if....well it's almost like...."
"It's a little like being sucked into something," Seamus replied. "Don't be ashamed of feeling sick to your stomach or freaked out- it's how a lot of people feel when they're not accustomed to this."
"Good to know," Gabriel said as they navigated their way toward Seamus' trailer. "I'm really looking forward to seeing my Gran and Grandpa. And I'm sure Gran is going to be happy to know that I dropped the attitude..."
Seamus laughed. "I'm glad too."
Robin was waiting for them at the trailer. She handed Seamus the folder from earlier and he quickly stuffed it in a briefcase. Gabriel wondered why he would need to take that with him, but figured it must be something he wanted to do while he was in L.A.
"Best I could do on short notice," Robin said handing Seamus an old CD case.
"Works for me," Seamus replied. "Gabe, just put a finger on here all right?"
"Okay," Gabriel said doing as he was told.
Lavender patted him on the shoulder. "It's going to be okay and it's much better than some crummy flight, trust me."
Seamus gripped his son's arm while Lavender activated their portkey. "Here we go- and hold on Gabe!"
Gabriel had barely blinked an eye before he felt as if something was jerking him forward. He wanted to scream, but felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him.
What felt like several minutes but was only really several seconds later, Gabriel felt himself being hurled onto the floor back in Seamus's studio in LA. "Whoa..." he said, stumbling a bit.
"You okay son?" Seamus asked after helping Lavender to her feet.
"I think so..." Gabriel replied.
"Told you it wasn't much fun," Lavender said smiling reassuringly at him. "Apparition is much better. Floo isn't that bad either, except for the soot."
"Apparition?" Gabriel asked. "I think I heard Alexa and Saffron talking about taking some test to be able to do that..."
"It means to disappear in one place and reappear in another," Lavender explained. "Remember the day we told you about magic and I did that?"
Gabriel nodded. "That kind of freaked me out."
Lavender smiled at him. "Does it still?"
"No," he said shaking his head. "I think it's kind of cool actually."
"Good," Lavender replied.
"Feels so weird that it's only about nine in the morning here," Seamus tossed his briefcase on his desk.
Gabriel suddenly thought of something. "Dad? Um, do my grandparents know we're coming? And if they do, how will we explain how we just managed to arrive? They don't know about what you are..."
"I rang them yesterday and told them that we were coming back for some business," Seamus said. "Don't worry."
"Oh," Gabriel said. "Okay..."
"I've got it all covered," Seamus said with a grin. "Come on- I know you're anxious to see them."
Gabriel grinned back. "I've missed them."
"They've missed you too," Seamus took his wife's hand.
A car was waiting to take them to Margaret and Lewis' and Gabriel couldn't shake the feeling that something was up. Looking out the window at some familiar sights, he thought about how much he'd missed home.
A smile broke across his face when he saw his grandmother out on the front yard tending to her rose bushes.
"Gran!" he called out, nearly jumping from the car.
Margaret stood up and grinned when she saw the car pull in the drive. "Lewis!" she called out. "Gabe's here!"
Gabriel sprinted across the lawn and pulled his grandmother into a fierce hug. "I really missed you and Grandpa." he said.
"We missed you too," Margaret said cupping his face in her hands.
"There's my boy!" an older gentleman exclaimed as he came out the door.
"Grandpa," Gabe said giving him a big hug. "I've been keeping up with the box scores over the Internet. Dodgers are doing terrible."
"Games haven't been the same without my partner in crime," Lewis said giving him a hug.
"They're doing badly because I'm not here," Gabriel joked.
Lewis chuckled, but abruptly stopped when he caught sight of Seamus. Margaret shot him a warning look before motioning for Seamus and Lavender to come closer.
"Seamus," Margaret smiled. "It's lovely to see you again. And this must be your wife?"
"Lavender Brown-Finnigan," Lavender said warmly. "Gabe's told me so much about you."
"Likewise," Margaret replied. "Are you thirsty? I have lemonade inside and some fresh baked cookies."
"That sounds wonderful," Lavender said walking ahead with Margaret into the house.
"Hello, Lewis," Seamus said extending his hand.
Lewis ignored him and wordlessly headed into the house.
"Sorry," Gabriel said to his father. "I'm not sure why he's being like this--"
"I don't think your grandfather ever really liked me," Seamus replied ruefully.
"He just needs to get to know you," Gabriel said. "Granddad was the only father I had growing up."
"If I can face off with Bruce Green I can handle anyone," Seamus said with a mischievous grin.
Gabriel chuckled and followed his father into the house.
"This place has been so quiet without Gabe," Margaret said smiling at her grandson.
"I've been having a great time in England," Gabriel told her. "Met some really cool people- and Dad even took me on the set of his film today!"
"How big of him," Lewis said under his breath.
"Lewis," Margaret gave him a chiding look.
"Pardon me if I'm not impressed with his playing the father," Lewis said angrily. "He used my daughter and then threw her out like she didn't mean anything to him...."
"That's not true," Seamus interjected. "I cared a great deal for Sam."
"Grandpa---" Gabriel interjected.
"He wasn't here for you growing up," Lewis folded his arms.
"I didn't know," Seamus said quietly. "I'd have been there every step of the way if I'd known about Gabe."
"You wouldn't have cared less," Lewis said glaring at him.
"Lewis---" Margaret said putting her hand on his arm.
"That isn't true at all," Lavender spoke up in her husband's defence. "Seamus is a very generous and loving man."
Lewis shook his head. "It's like listening to Samantha all over again..."
"Seamus," Margaret said forcing a smile and eager to change the subject. "Why don't you tell us what brings you by? You said you had something you'd like to tell us."
"I do," Seamus nodded. "It's the main reason why we came back for the day."
Lewis folded his arms and sat back down beside his wife.
"What is it?" Margaret asked.
"Lav and I would like to formally adopt Gabriel," Seamus said.
Gabriel stared at him in disbelief. "What?"
"You won't have to change your name or anything, not if you don't want to," Seamus told his son. "And if you'd like to continue living here, we both understand that as well. But I'd like to recognise you as mine."
"I-I don't know what to say," Gabriel said still taken aback.
"I don't like it," Lewis said bluntly.
"It's just a bit sudden," Margaret said quietly.
"We're not trying to take your place in Gabe's life," Lavender said gently.
"Not at all," Seamus agreed.
Neither Margaret nor Lewis said anything.
"Perhaps you could show them the papers," Lavender suggested.
"I don't need to see any papers," Lewis said gruffly. "We're against it."
"Lewis," Margaret placed a hand on his arm. "This is technically up to Gabriel."
"Yes it is," Seamus said. "And contrary to what you believe, Lewis, I cared for your daughter and I think this is what Sam would want."
"What Sam would want?" Lewis roared. "How the hell would you know what Sam would want?"
"Seamus cared very much for your daughter," Lavender interjected. "I'm very sorry I never got the chance to meet her."
"She deserved a lot better than what she got," Lewis said before walking out of the room.
Margaret sighed. "I am so sorry," she apologised.
"Maybe it was too soon," Seamus said quietly. "It's only been a few weeks."
"I want this," Gabriel said, looking at his father.
Seamus smiled. "You do?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "I mean, I'd still like to live here with my grandparents... especially since I'll be moving on campus once I start school."
"That's fine," Seamus said sharing a look with Lavender. "Gabe, this is..."
"Fantastic," Lavender finished, smiling at him.
Margaret smiled too. "I'm happy for you Gabe," she said, patting her grandson's hand.
"You're not mad?" he asked.
"You've got the father you always wanted," Margaret said.
Gabriel nodded. "And I think it's what Mom would have wanted."
"I think so too," Margaret's eyes grew teary at the mention of her daughter
"I think that was why she told him about me before she died," Seamus said thoughtfully looking at a picture of Samantha on the coffee table. "She wanted us to find each other."
"She was really beautiful," Lavender said. "And she sounded like a lovely person."
"She was," Margaret said wiping at her eyes.
Lavender moved over and sat next to Margaret. "I hope you'll realise that I love Gabriel like I would my own son. He's become very special to us in the past few weeks."
Margaret smiled at her. "He's told me how nice you've been to him. That means a lot to me, Lavender."
Lavender hugged the older woman. "We were really hoping to have yours and your husband's approval for the adoption process... I hope we can convince Lewis that we truly want to do this."
"I'll go and talk to him," Gabriel said getting to his feet.
"Let me go," Lavender stood up. "I'll call you for reinforcement if I need it." she smiled.
"Lavender," Seamus protested. "I don't know if that's such a good idea..."
"I'll be all right," Lavender assured him.
In the kitchen, Lewis was reading his newspaper. He barely looked up when he heard someone come into the room.
"Can I join you?" Lavender knocked softly on the doorframe.
Lewis shrugged and set his paper aside.
"Seamus and I want you to know that our intentions are completely honourable," Lavender sat down across from him. "We both care about Gabriel very much. I already think of him as a son."
Lewis looked as if he was trying to choose his words very carefully. "Having money doesn't make you a better provider," he finally said.
"It has nothing to do with money," Lavender told him. "Gabriel is a very bright and sensitive young man and we're both proud of him."
"What did your husband tell you about my daughter?" Lewis asked.
"That she was a very beautiful, kind and generous person," Lavender. "The type of person that everyone wants to be and everyone likes because they're so open and loving."
"She was all those things," Lewis said his voice breaking.
"I'm sure she was," Lavender nodded. "And now we all have a chance of getting to know her through Gabriel."
Lewis shook his head. "My grandson has suffered enough. The last thing he needs is to get close to someone who isn't going to be around in the long run. "
"But Seamus is going to be around," Lavender said. "And so will I. That's why we're going through with this adoption- it's more for me than Seamus since Samantha listed him as the father on the birth certificate."
"That'd be like saying Samantha wasn't his mother," Lewis argued. "I won't allow that."
Lavender bit her lower lip. "You know that's not the case here."
"What is the case here?" Lewis asked her.
"We want to give Gabriel anything he wants," Lavender said. "We don't want to take him away from you or Margaret. We never want him to forget Samantha- in fact Seamus even dug up some old films he had of her and gave them to Gabriel and we watched them together."
"What?" Lewis asked.
"We want Samantha to remain a part of Gabriel's life," Lavender said gently.
"You mean that?" Lewis asked fixing his gaze on her.
"Of course I do," Lavender looked straight back at him. "And you and Margaret as well."
"She was 24 when she met your husband," Lewis said after a few moments silence. "She thought the sun shone and set on him."
"I know," Lavender nodded. "Seamus was very fond of her as well. I even think he did love her."
"I thought he was far too old for her, but she never did listen to me," Lewis said with a slight laugh.
"Daughters rarely do," Lavender smiled. "We all think we know best."
"Maggie told me about your own parents," Lewis said sympathetically. "I'm sorry..."
"It was a long time ago," Lavender said softly. "And I had some wonderful family members that helped me through that time."
Lewis nodded. "Family's important."
"That it is," Lavender agreed. "And now that Gabriel's here, we want to be his family along with you and Margaret. If you can't accept it for Seamus, do it for Gabriel and Samantha."
Lewis stood up and for an awful moment, Lavender thought he was going to say something else against them. She shakily got to her own feet and followed him into the sitting room.
"Everything okay?" Seamus asked his wife.
She nodded and sat down next to him, taking his hand and giving it a comforting squeeze.
"Where---where do we have to sign?" Lewis asked.
Seamus looked at him in shock. "What?"
Lewis pulled a pen out of his shirt pocket. "Your wife is very persuasive."
"Lewis just cares a lot about his grandson," Lavender said modestly. "He wants what is best for Gabriel, as we all do."
"I just hope you know that I'm not doing this for you," Lewis said as he took the papers from Seamus. "I'm doing this for Gabe. If this is what he wants, I won't stand in his way."
"Thanks Grandpa," Gabriel gave Lewis a hug. "And I'm still going to be around, I promise."
"Even if you're missing the entire baseball season," Lewis said hugging his grandson back.
"I'll be back at the end of August," Gabriel said laughing.
"Thank you so much," Lavender said sincerely to Lewis and Margaret. "This means so much to us."
Lewis finished signing his name on the papers and then handed them over to his wife. "Are you going to take your....your father's name, Gabe?"
"I thought I'd sort of take it on as a second last name," Gabriel said thoughtfully. "Gabriel Boyd- Finnigan."
Margaret wiped at her eyes with a tissue. "Gabriel..."
"Yeah?" he smiled at his grandmother.
"Sam would be so proud of you," Margaret said with a smile. "Of the three most important men in her life."
"I'm glad," Gabriel said. "I'm going to make all of you proud of me in school."
"Of that I have no doubt," Margaret said. "Now, how about I get those cookies?"
"I've missed your cookies," Gabriel said.
"I've kind of missed them too," Seamus said, rubbing his stomach. "Sam used to bring them home. We made ourselves sick sitting on the sofa eating them."
Margaret laughed. "Good thing I made extra then."
"Lav, you going to cheat a little?" Seamus asked his wife. "Trust me, they're worth it."
"I suppose a few couldn't hurt," Lavender replied.
"Great," Margaret said. "Come on into the kitchen..."
Gabriel and Lavender stood up and followed her out of the room. Seamus hung back, eager to have a word with Lewis.
"Thank you," he said to the older man.
Lewis nodded. "Your wife assured me that neither of you is trying to take Samantha's place. I assume you understand how important that is to Maggie and me."
"I do," Seamus said. "Lewis, I did love Samantha. And she's given me this wonderful gift."
"Gabriel means the world to us," Lewis said. "I'm just glad that he's getting everything he wants."
"We're not so different then," Seamus said smiling tentatively at him.
"I suppose not," Lewis finally cracked a smile.
"You know you might like me one of these days," Seamus said.
"I wouldn't go that far," Lewis teased, offering his hand.
"We'll just take it one day at a time," Seamus said shaking his hand. "We are family now."
"For Gabe's sake," Lewis replied.