AU Backdarft corrie

Corrie ran her hand over the sleeping, red, heads of Morrow and Alex, a tear slipping down her cheek.

"That's terrible," she lifted the sleeping Morrow and held him close to her, "I just can't imagine feeling that way about any of them. Poor Harry."

Piney watched his grandchildren sleep, "The final straw was I came home from a business trip to find Mary beating the tar out of Opie. He was ten at the time. I threw her out that night."

The revelation shocked her. How could anyone beat Opie? She pulled Piney closer to her and gave them man a hug.

"Good god, no wonder he won't tell me about his childhood."

Piney was surprised, but hugged her back. "I was not a good father, which was salt to the wound. I could have stopped it sooner if I would have just stayed home."

"Does he know how much you regret it? It would go a long way towards fixing your relationship. He is an amazing man, Piney."

Piney sighed, "It's one of the reasons I came here. Well, I also wanted to apologize to you."

Suddenly she was suspicious, " Why the sudden change of heart?"

Piney smiled sadly, "Honey, when you are old, last thing you need to do is burn bridges."

She smiled at him seeing how he was eyeing the babies and handed him Morrow.
"You don't have to ask....Pop," she used the name she'd heard Opie using.

Piney held Morrow close to him, "Pop...That's more like it, kid." He winked at her before looking back down at Morrow, "He takes after his pop. Harry was a good baby."

"I can't ever imagine Ope this small," Corrie wrinkled her nose and laughed.

She picked up Alex and Adelaide and snuggled them close.

"I'm glad you came out to stay with us," she smiled.

Piney chuckled, kissing her forehead, "Me too, kid."

Corrie and Piney sat and talked until she started to yawn and stretch. Just as he was getting ready to get up and leave, Morrow and Alex started crying, bringing Opie into the room. Corrie with Alex and Piney with Morrow they were already feeding them by the time Ope came in.

Opie smiled at the sight before him. Carefully he picked up Adelaide and held her close, "Everything good?"

She reached out to Opie and bushed his hand with hers.

"Of course. Pop was just tellin me about you as a baby," she raised her eyebrow as she called him Pop.

Opie smirked, "Oh man, what did he tell you?"

"That you were a good baby. though I still have a hard time believing you were ever this small," she yawned again.

Opie smirked, "Oh god, thanks Pop."

Piney chuckled, "Don't mention it."

Corrie sank back against the pillows, Alex asleep against her chest, and listened to the two men talk. Soon, she'd fallen into an exhausted sleep.

Opie covered Corrie up and kept his eyes on her sleeping form. "Thanks for coming, Pop."

"Son, I need you to know how much I regret ignoring what your Momma did to you. And the stuff I said about your wife, I'm sorry. She is absolutely amazing, boy, don't you let her go anywhere."

Uncharacteristically,he snuggled his grandson.

Opie looked at his father, "She is amazing, Pop. I love her with all my heart. " He reached over and squeezed his hand, "Dad, it's okay."

Piney shook his head, "It's not, son. I don't even know why I was such an asshole. I missed out on an amazing boy turning into an amazing man. Just the face that you are letting me hold this baby without punching me in th eface is a testament to that. I'm proud of ya, Ope."

Opie smiled, "I'm glad you are here, Dad."

The next few weeks were a blur for Corrie. Piney had an amazing heart and she grew to love the man. He loved his grandchildren, absolutely doting on them. He had already started trusts for all three.
She and Opie got to spend some time alone while Piney watched the babies for them. This was one such night. The babies, who were three months old at this point, were with their grandfather while Corrie and Opie walked hand in hand through the city of lights. They were locals now and Corrie had picked up some French. She really did love it here, but she knew they'd have to make a choice soon.

"I love you, Opie," she kissed his hand.