A Most Graceful Life Ch. 03

"How about this?" He asked, pointing to one of the girls in the pictures. "Can you replicate that outfit?"

She took a look at it for a moment, and then nodded. "That sounds like it fits within the anonymity wish clause," she grinned. "Just wish it so!"

"I wish for you to be clothed like this girl," said Stephen, and right before his very eyes, each layer of clothing appeared. Before he knew it, she was standing before him in the very same outfit, a blue casual blouse with white lace on the edges, and a pair of light blue jean shorts. She looked absolutely stunning, and one of the reasons he picked that particular outfit was how it would reflect with her eyes. He wasn't disappointed.

"You like?" She asked, taking a moment to spin around for him.

"Very much," he answered, with hunger in his eyes.

"Good," She beamed. "I also took the liberty of adding something very sexy underneath, for when we get back." She winked at him, and casually pulled her blouse up, exposing a white lace bra that made her tits look absolutely magnificent.

Stephen gulped hard, "You just made it that much harder to leave the house."

She giggled, "Come on now, silly. We have to go check on your Grandpa!"

It wasn't much more than five minutes later that they were pulling out his driveway on the trip to his grandparent's house. For his own part, Stephen found it hard to concentrate on the road, as he kept sneaking glances at his passenger. He assumed no one could blame him, as with the windows down, and her light brown hair waving with the wind, there was not a more beautiful woman on the planet to him. And yet, she wasn't even technically a woman.

"You know," she started, shooting a sideways glance at him. "I've only been in your world since this morning, but I'm pretty sure you need to keep your eyes on the road, right? Unless this thing drives itself," she said, cheekily.

"Er, sorry," stammered Stephen, his eyes darting back in front of him. She just laughed and rested her hand on his.

"Nothing to be sorry about at all, Stephen. I love having your eyes on me. You make me feel so desired, and so sexy."

Stephen wrinkled his brow in confusion, "Just from my eyes on you? That seems a bit odd."

"Does it?" She asked. "How do you feel when I look at you like this?" She put on her best seductive look, with her mouth slightly parted and her eyes closing just slightly. It was a bedroom look if Stephen ever saw one, and he felt a thickening taking place within his pants.

"Okay, I think I understand now," he said, seriously heated.

She just smiled at him, before it slowly dropped and she made a more serious face. "So we are off to see your grandfather. I take it it's rather serious, then?"

Stephen nodded, "Unfortunately, yes. He's getting up there in age and lately, he just doesn't have the control necessary to keep his balance like he used to. It just makes it so tough. Growing up, he was the closest thing to a father figure I've ever known. My own father ditched us when I was only ten, and my grandpa stepped in as much as he could. He always told my mother that my father was no good, and it appears he was right."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Stephen," she said, her hand gently squeezing his own.

"It's okay, and thank you. I just learned so much about being a man from him. He was my idol for what masculinity should look like, and it just gets so hard to see him breaking down like this. This is the second time he's fallen this month. I'm worried that one day he's just going to fall and not be able to recover."

"Does your grandmother still take care of him?"

"As much as she can, but she's getting up there in age as well. Mom has talked about them possibly going into a retirement facility but they won't even hear of it. They've been in the same house since 1953 and asking them to move just isn't in the cards."

"That has to be hard," she replied gently. "Watching them grow old."

"Very hard," he agreed. "You would like my grandpa especially though. Not only does he always have a joke or witticism, but I swear he's done and seen everything."

"Well to me, it sounds like the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree," she replied.

Stephen had to let out a little laugh, even though he knew she wasn't trying to make fun. "I wish that were the case. I'm certainly not wise, can't tell any jokes, and just don't have his charisma."

"I think you sell yourself a little short. From what I can see, you are quite the catch," she replied, her voice low and serious.

"You say that now, but tell me what you think after you've known me for more than two hours," he joked.

She simply smiled, but said nothing more.

"It is okay with you, that I go in alone, right?" He asked, shooting a sideways glance at her.

"Of course, Mas-, I mean Stephen," she recovered.

"I mean, I understand you are bound to me, and whatnot, but they've never seen me with a girl before. To tell you the truth, I'm still getting used to it, so this might not be the best time. It has nothing to do with you. I just don't want to upset your feelings."

"You're worried about my feelings?" She asked, incredulously. "You are a rare kind of master, that is for sure. People from my time were not like that."

"What were people from your time like? Do you have memory of your life before being in the portal?"

She thought for a moment before answering. "I do. Snippets and flashbacks. I remember the time, and bits and pieces of my own life. That seems odd, doesn't it?"

"I suppose, but so is the fact that you're a genie as well," joked Stephen.

She giggled, "You're right. But my time was much harsher than it is now. Death and poverty were very real. You never knew what the day might bring to you. It was a daily struggle just to survive. Many that I knew didn't live very long, or very well at all. It's hard.. for me to think back on those times."

"Maybe someday, you will tell me about your life before the portal. That is, if you want to?"

She rewarded him with her trademark smile, "Someday, if you still want to hear the story then."

Stephen responded with a squeeze of his hand. This seemed like the more natural thing in the world to him, holding hands and being close with her, even with the obvious elephant in the room. Despite only knowing her for half a day, he already felt closer to her than just about anyone else. He felt more understood than he had ever, and at least since Danny had died. Maybe this was just what he needed to help him get through a tough time. She was like an angel to him, and the sad part was, he hadn't even thought of a name to give her yet.

Not that there hadn't been several contenders, and he had been trying to think of several suitable names ever since she told him it was his prerogative to give her one. But what do you name a twenty five hundred year old genie who was meant to grant your every sexual desire? It wasn't like a naming a pet, and it was something that he wanted to have serious meaning to, something fitting for who she was and what she represented.

Ordinary names just didn't seem to fit very well in his mind.Jessica? No, not a fan of that one. She doesn't seem like a Jessica. Mandy? No, that reminds me of Mandy Yanacci from 9th grade, so no to that as well. Veronica? Has potential, but I don't love it. What to name her? What would be pretty, feminine name, and yet convey the regal nature of her true powers?

"You are in very serious thought over there," she nearly whispered, turning to look at him.

"I'm trying to come up with a name that is fitting for you," he replied.

"I'm sure it will be a great one, with how much thought you are putting into this," she chuckled.

"I just.. don't want to give you an ordinary name, because you're not ordinary. I want something that gives off a tone of beauty and grace, because that's what you are. Not to mention, it's only by the grace of God that I feel like I found you. It's-," Stephen stopped, as the realization for the name just hit up like a ton of bricks.

"I have it!"

"I'm all ears," she giggled.

"How do you feel about the name, Grace? It's a beautiful name, and surely fitting for who you are. And with it implies a subtle connotation of your powers. Do you like it?"

"Grace. Grace. Grace," she said to herself several times, before turning to him with a bright smile. "I LOVE it! My name is Grace. Graaaaace," she said laughingly, trying it out for size.

"Are you sure? I want to make sure you really like it?" Stephen asked.

"No, I adore that name! I love it, and I want to thank you for picking it," she squeezed his hand.

"I think it's so fitting," he said, looking back to her. "So from now on, you're Grace. My Grace."

"Your Grace," she repeated. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I love it."

"Thank God, I'm so glad," he chuckled. "We will be at their house one we get around this corner. I can't say if they'll look out the window or something to see the car, so do you think you might be able to do your disappearing act?"

"You mean, like this?" She asked, and within a moment, the passenger seat was empty.

"Just like that," Stephen laughed.

"You know, you wouldn't be laughing if you knew the power I can have while still being invisible," came Grace's words within his head. It was followed by a sudden rush of hot breath against his neck, and a long kiss there as well, too.

"You are making this really hard for me," he thought back in return.

"I thought that was supposed to be my job?"

"Just behave for now, and then later on we'll explore that in more detail!"

"You tease!" she giggled.

Stephen pulled into the driveway of his grandparents old ranch style house. It wasn't a particular big house, but then again, nothing constructed in 1953 was that big to begin with. After shutting down his car, he went to the front door and rang the bell.

His grandma answered just about immediately. "Oh, Stephen, thank God you came!"

"Mom told me what happened. How is Grandpa?"

"He seems to be fine now. But I've already given him something for the pain. But I really need your help getting him off the floor." She ushered him inside, and closed the door behind him. He easily towered over his grandma, who was barely five feet tall. Her hair had turned snow white even before Stephen had been born and she had been rail thin for years. Despite her outward frailty, she was one of the most caring people Stephen had ever met. She was the type who would put herself into a poor house just so you never wanted for anything.

"He's just in through here," she said, leading the way into the family room. Sure enough, he found grandpa laying on his back, with pillows shoved under his hips and head. If Stephen expected him to be in too much pain to joke, he was disappointed.

"Stephen! My how tall you've gotten lately. You tower over me now!" Grandpa joked, beaming up with a smile at his oldest grandson.

"That's only because you're flat on your back, Grandpa," Stephen chuckled. "How did this happen again?"

"It's my own fault, and I was just being careless. I lost my balance walking back from the bathroom, and I thought I was closer to the chair. I reached out to grab it to steady myself, hit nothing but air, and then I was a goner from there," he chuckled.

"Mhmm, and where was your cane at? I don't see it anywhere," Stephen chastised.

"Oh, I don't need that darned thing inside the house. Besides, that's for old people!" He grinned, seemingly unfazed by the irony in his statement.

"I like him already," came Grace's words inside his head.

"Just wait until you get to know him better. He's a riot," Stephen thought back.

"Well, are you just going to stand there and look at me, or are you going to help me back up?" Grandpa asked, holding his arms up.

Without a word, Stephen reached down to scoop him up in both arms, before gently sitting him down in his recliner. Like his grandma, his grandfather had lost a lot of weight recently as well, making him easy to scoop off the floor.

"Good God, son, I see someone's been busy eating their spinach," Grandpa joked as he was set down in his chair.

"You don't eat enough, so you're as light as a feather," chuckled Stephen.

"No, that can't be true. You're just Mr. Muscles now, that's it! I'm surprised the girls aren't beating down the door to get to you!"

"He doesn't know the half of it," stated Grace.

"Shush you," said Stephen, stifling a laugh.

"How do you feel, Grandpa? Are you in any pain?"

"Eh, a little, I suppose. But those painkillers are starting to kick in now," he replied, looking a bit more comfortable now that he was in his chair.

"Can we get you anything, Ted?" Grandma asked, addressing him by his real name.

"Maybe just a tall glass of water," Grandpa replied. "Stephen, you're not in a hurry, are you? Stay and chat for a bit?"

"Not at all, Grandpa," he chuckled, while sitting down on the couch beside him.

"So, my boy, what do you know? How's life?"

"Oh you know, about the same as usual," he said out loud.With one big change, he thought to himself. Grace giggled in his head.

"I know I usually don't have to worry about you, especially with you being as strong as an ox," Grandpa chuckled. "How's your mother doing?"

"Oh, she's carrying on, like we all are," Stephen answered, a bit honestly.

"She puts a lot on herself. That ones a fighter, there's no doubt about that," came Grandpa's reply. "And the twins? Still up to no good?"

Stephen laughed, "More so than usual, but that's not saying much."

Grandpa chuckled again, "They are a handful. But so were you at that age. You mellowed out a lot once you got old enough."

"Did the same thing happen with you when you were young, Grandpa?"

"Who me?" he laughed. "Some would say I never mellowed out. Your grandmother would be the first on that list."

As if on cue, she stepped back into the room, carrying with her a full glass of water, and handing it to her husband.

"There it is, thank you my love," Grandpa replied, before taking a long slow drink. "That's just what I needed."

Grandma smiled and kissed his forehead, before walking away.

"They are so cute together!" thought Grace inside his mind.

"They've been together for the better part of sixty seven years. I don't think they'd know what to do without each other," thought Stephen.

He could hear Grace pining within his head, and tried not to laugh. Women, he thought.

Stephen sat and talked with his grandfather for the better part of two hours. They always seemed to cover the same topics when they had their long talks, but for Stephen, he wouldn't trade it for anything. He knew now, especially after today, that time with his grandparents was precious, and who knew just how much time he had left to spend with them. For her part, Grace mostly listened, and imparted her own little comical statements internally when something funny was brought up. More than once, he found himself grinning from her words, and really wanted to show her off to them.One day I will.

After a few hours, Grandpa let out a little yawn, "Well, I think I might try to take a little nap. You don't mind, do you, Stephen?"

"No, not at all. A nap sounds like a good idea," he chuckled. "Or at least a coffee!"

"If I drink a coffee now, I'll still be up at midnight," Grandpa remarked.

"Take care of yourself, okay? Please use your cane more around the house?" Stephen asked.

"I'll tell you what. I will. But only because you asked me to. How's about that?" he replied, with a twinkle in his eye.

"I'll take it," laughed Stephen.

He gave his grandfather a hug, and then did the same for his grandma.

"Come back soon, okay, sweetie?" She said, as he headed for the door.

"I will, Grandma. Take care of him, will you?"

"I'll do the best I can," she replied with a warm smile.

Stephen closed the door behind him and walked the short distance to his car. Turning it, and pulling out of the driveway, he was about halfway down the street, when Grace magically appeared in his front seat.

"Welcome back," Stephen chuckled.

"I really can't wait to meet them!" She gushed, with her usual bubbliness.

"We should probably start with my mom, at least at first," laughed Stephen. "Then work our way up to grandparents."

"As you wish, Master!" Grace jokingly lowered her head. "So tell me, where do we go from here?"

"Well, I figured we'd just head home. It's only about 2 pm, so we have a few hours to kill before Mom or the twins get back," said Stephen.

"Oh yeah?" Grace asked, arching her eyebrow. "Whatever should we do to pass the time?"

The way she was looking at him suggested she knew exactly what she wanted to do. Stephen gulped hard, and pushed the gas pedal a little harder.