Unconditional Love (Second story in the 'Unconditional' series)

Happy Birthday

1 year and a half  later
    
     This week is Lucy's 5th birthday. Alison is really excited because she loves planing parties, I'm not sure why, it's just one of her things.
    "Ok Lucy so, what is your theme of your birthday?" Alison asked her with wide and excited eyes. Lucy looked confused then realized what Ali was talking about.
     "Oh, I want it to be princesses" she smiled. Gracie laughed
      "What are you laughing at missy?" Alison started to tickle grace.
       "Are princesses not your thing? Have you grown out of that when you turned 8" Alison laughed and so did the girls. Ali and Lucy started to take care of the party plans. Gracie sat on the couch bored. I went over and sat next to her
        "What to go do something?" I asked her. She sat up
        "Like what?" She asked
        "What ever you'd like, but in not buying any plane tickets" I told her and she had her thinking face on.
          "The brew?" She asked
          "Have you ever been to the brew?" I asked her with a small laugh
           "No, but aunt Ali talks about it a lot and her memories with her friends" grace answered and stood up.
            "Ok, let's go, it's just a coffee shop you know" I said as we walked out the door
            "I know" she smiled.

We got to the brew and we walked through the doors. I haven't been in here in years. It was weird being back here and the fact that it's with my daughter makes it weirder. We ordered drinks and I got grace a muffin. Gracie talked about school and her friends and stuff like that.  Then a familiar figure walked into the brew. I laughed a little. I looked down hoping she wouldn't see me. But she did any way. She walked over to us with her coffee and a huge smile.
      "Jason Dilaurentis" she stated and shook her head in disbelief
      "Mona vanderwal" I stated right back with the same tone of disbelief.
       "It's good to see you, I haven't seen you since...... well you know" Mona said as she realized Gracie was sitting at the table
        "And this must be a little dilaurentis" she smiled at grace
        "Yeah, this is grace, my oldest" I said
         "Hi grace, I'm Mona, it's very nice to meet you" mona smiled and put her hand out to her. I wouldn't be surprised if grace does shake her hand, grace has some trust issues.
           "Hi Mona" Gracie shook Mona's hand.
            "Well I'm late for a meeting, but it was great to see you Jason and wonderful to meet you grace" Mona said goodbye with a wide smile then left the brew.
              "Who was that, ex girlfriend?" Gracie asked me and I my eyes widened
               "No, she was a friend of your aunts and your mom" I told grace and sipped my coffee. Gracie nodded her head
              "She seems sweet" Gracie smiled. She put her head down to finished her muffin and I laughed to myself
               "Ok" I laughed still.

  Gracie and I went home. We walked into the kitchen and saw invitations and themes and board with names. Gracie and I were only gone for an hour.
     "Wow" Gracie said what I was thinking
     "We did everything, we booked everything, made invitations and picked a day to have the party.
       "Well now I don't have to do anything" I smiled. The girls went into the living room and played and watched tv. Ali and I were in the kitchen and she was talking about the party.
         "So where did you and grace go?" She asked me
         "The brew" I told her and her eyes widened
         "Wow' she paused 'I haven't been there in years" Alison said
          "Yeah, it's been a while, but guess who I saw there" I said to Alison and jokingly she responded with
            "A waiter?" She laughed and a lightly laughed
            "Yeah but no, I saw Mona vanderwal" I told Alison
            "I haven't heard that name in a long time, how is she?" Ali asked
            "She seemed good" I said and Alison nodded with a smile
             "That's great, I should give her a cal and see if she wants to have lunch" Alison picked her phone up.
              "I thought you and Mona weren't friends" I asked confused
             "Years ago we weren't" she answered.

1 week later

   Lucy's party was starting and of course Ali was running the show. Grace and I hung out in the other room. As we watched tv I saw that look on grace's face, something's as eating at her.
     "Grace what's wrong?" I asked her
     "When are going to start dating again?" She asked. She didn't look at me she stared at the tv.
        "What do you mean?" I asked her
        "It's been two years, you aren't going to spend the rest of your life alone, without some sort of girlfriend or wife, right? Aunt Alison is just here to help, she took over as mom for taking care of us, but she can't be mom for you"  Gracie said. I narrowed my eyebrows and swallowed hard
            "Gracie, no on can be your mom, no matter who they are or what they do, ok?' I paused and she nodded ' I will probably date, maybe soon, but no one is your mom" I told her and put my arm around her.