"Like I said, it's really not that kid's fault." He'd know, he has personally experience with that. "Mom mom was a supreme flake who forgot to go grocery shopping and pick Vick and I up from school half the time, and we-- Well, at least I turned out okay. Which is at least in part because I had a great role model who wasn't my mom around for me to look up to."

That person would be Elena's father, who filled a role that would've been empty with or without his mother actually acting like a parent. He's forever grateful for the influence Grayson Gilbert had on him, and doubts he would've turned out the way he did without his guidance. Vicki sure didn't.