I've been working on this one for awhile and it's finally done, thanks for the early feedback on it Althea.


Disclaimer: The show eight is enough and it's characters do not belong to me. And no profit will be made of the following short story.



Through the Eyes of Gwendolyn



~Oh no not him again. Didn't he put me through enough fear the last time?~ She shudders as she sees the bald middle aged man approaching. The one her mistress calls Tom. She could hear them arguing but they didn't really seem angry just their normal selves.

~No!! She's not handing him the keys!! Please no!!~ She had remembered the last time her mistress let Tom drive it had been a nightmare for her. Worse than the nightmare a couple of years back when the red head had gotten her stolen. And worse than when the little guy had hidden in her to get away from some little girl.

She sighs in relief when she realises that Abby was just teasing her husband and snatches the keys back. Gwendolyn listens in and discovers that she's not letting him drive because he's much too nervous. He's about to become a grandfather again after all.

~Wait no take me with you!! I want to see!!~ She tries to get them to hear her when they walk away from her and go into the big white building.

It feels like an eternity when they finally return to her talking and laughing. From the conversation Gwendolyn discovers that theres another girl in the family and that Nicholas is the father.

~But he hid in me years ago to hide from a girl.~ Gwendolyn ponders never having got used to the fact that he is an adult and married now. It was good to see joy on the faces of her mistress and her husband again. They had been through a lot in the past two years. With Tommy getting in trouble with the law, Susan leaving Merle for another man, and worst of all losing one of the children to an accident. ~Maybe now things will start getting back to normal.~

She listens as Tom and Abby speak.

"I wish she could've lived to see Nicholas become a father." Tom speaks of his child that died.

Abby leans her head on his shoulder. "She was there Tom, maybe not in body but in spirit."

"Maybe I'm selfish but I'd rather have her alive again." He says.

"It's not selfish, I feel the same way." Abby muses.

~Oh no don't get all sad again. That stupid sedan.~ Gwendolyn thinks to herself and tries to drown out their voices so she doesn't sadden too.

They finally do make it home and go inside to celebrate the new arrival. And a few days later they meet the new parents at their house when they bring the baby home.

Later that Sunday, Gwen waits for Nancy and her family to show up. ~Blondie, the cop, and the kids always come over on Sundays to eat dinner and spend time with my mistress and Tom. Up to a month or so ago Blondie and my mistress would go somewhere private to talk about Elizabeth and cry. They still go and have their private conversations and sometimes talk about Elizabeth but they don't cry anymore. The only thing I don't like about these visits is Blondie's five year old daughter she always sneaks into me and pretends she's driving and makes all kinds of annoying sounds. The other kids are all right. The 12 year old is interested in the boy across the street. And the twins, the 17 year old boys are always talking about their latest girlfriends. At times the boys fight but they always make up again.~

~They're here, but where are the twins?~ Gwen wonders.

"Where are the boys?"

"They had dates Dad." Nancy says. "They're going to stop by tomorrow and see you two."

"Or they'll be hell to pay. Mommy told them." The five year old says.

"Watch your mouth." Nancy warns her.

"You said it earlier."

"It was a slip up baby." Nancy tells her. "I'm sorry."

"Me too, Grandma can I go drive Gwendolyn."

"Of course honey, come on." Abby takes her to see Gwendolyn after she greets her other granddaughter, Nancy and Brian.

~Oh no not again, well at least she's supervised this time.~ Gwen thinks as Abby and Nancy's youngest approach.

The kid pretends to drive her Grandma to the store while Gwendolyn tries to keep from cringing.

Soon darkness starts to fall and Blondie and family head for their own house. Gwendolyn starts to relax for the evening until she hears a car peel into the driveway and a car door slam. ~Uh oh she must have gone ten rounds with the red head again.~ She thinks about Susan's daughter Sandy. Gwen liked Sandy but has been angry at Susan since she started seeing that other guy. She just wasn't the same anymore she hardly came over and she was constantly neglecting and fighting with her daughter. Sandy is still in tears when her grandparents come out to see what's going on. Abby hugs her and tries to calm her down. Gwen listens in on the conversation.

"Can I stay her tonight." Sandy asks.

"Of course you can honey." Tom says. He and Abby go inside with her.

~Wait what happened?!~ Gwendolyn wishes she could shout. ~I always miss out on all the juicy gossip.~

Two days later, Gwendolyn watches her mistress put a care package in the passenger seat and then turn to Tom.

"Come with me. He misses you Tom." Abby says.

"Abby I miss him too but I can't stand to see him in that place, please understand."

"I do, but I don't think Tommy does." She tells him.

Tom sighs and heads off to work. Abby shakes her head and gets in the driver seat. She then heads for the state penetiary.

~I hope he gets out soon.~ Gwen thinks when she realises where they are at again. ~Don't like all those men checking me out.~

Soon her mistress returns looking like she's been crying. Tears that Gwen knows that Tommy never saw. Knowing from her personality that she puts up a brave front around him. Gwen sighs. ~Another reason for me to hope for his release. To ease her pain and yes even Tom's pain.~ It's not long that they're on the road again.

A few years pass with Gwendolyn seeing many things. A few of them being weddings of some of the grandchildren, and sadly the passing of blondies husband. Somehow blondie had gotten through it. Having children to look after had sustained her. Gwen notices a car pull up and sees Sandy and her husband come out. Sandy has a car seat in her arms carrying their first child. Tom, Abby, and most of the family are soon over there to see the newest family member.

It's not long that Gwen's memories start to fade and she starts to forget a few things. She's feeling a little worn down when David's son gives his grandmother the horrible diagnosis.

"She doesn't have any miles left in her. She'll no longer run." He tells Abby.

~I do to!!~ Gwen protests.

"But I've had her for so long."

"I know." He says in sympathy. "Should I call the junk yard to come and get her." He whispers to her.

"No, she'll stay where she is. If the city complains all put a tarp over her."

He nods. The years continue to pass with the only action being grandchildren, great grandchildren, and soon even some great great grandchildren pretending to drive her. She often feels bad not being able to go anywhere anymore but feels more bad for her mistress who lost Tom a year ago. The kids have been by a lot to check on her and make sure she's doing ok but Gwen continues to worry especially twenty or thirty years down the road when Abby's own health starts to fail.

She doesn't get to see the death bed scene only her mistress collapse in the driveway wishing she could honk her horn to get help for her. It was Sandy who found her moments later and got help and Gwen had found out during conversations in the driveway that the doctors had agreed to let her mistress spend her last days at home.

It is not long after that when Gwendolyn sees people gathering at the house dressed in black. She knows then that her mistress is gone. From that point on she starts leaking water and doesn't stop. A week or so later.

Nancy stares at was once Gwendolyn and is now a rusted up MG. "Can you do anything for her?"

David's son shakes his head. "No there's no way I can repair this. I don't get it why would a water pump leak cause all this?"

"She knows." Nancy tells her nephew.

"She knows what?"

"That your grandma is gone." Nancy says with tears in her eyes.

At first her nephew thinks his Aunt is going senile but thinks it over and realizes she's right. It's not long that Gwen deterioates dying almost, give or take a few weeks, with her owner.


The End

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