Shorter chapter than usual...Sorry about that! I think the next chapter will be the last for this tale...I know it is, I'm itching to start the next one!

Enjoy and please R&R as usual, you know I love it when I know you're reading and enjoying!!

AJ5 ;-)

Chapter 10.

Cate spent the entire day with her little brother, showing him the sights around her home and where she used to work down past several beaches then back to her home where they started on packing up some of Cate's things for the move to Nashville. They' stopped for a while as they began sifting through photo's which Cate had to explain to Scotty where they were taken and sometimes who was in the shot.

'Why don't you call her, ask her to join us at Kris's?' Scotty asked reading his sister's mind as she fell silent whilst they looked through photographs they were meant to be packing away, several included Kelly but one in particular stood out to Cate, taken when the sisters weren't paying attention to the camera. Just a simple shot where the pair were laughing and enjoying the company of each other. Cate looked up to her baby brother after a moment and slowly shook her head.

'No, I don't think so; we're just not in the best place right now.' Cate smiled a little to her brother as she put the photo away in the box all photo's framed or not were going into.

'One of you needs to make the move to fix this before you leave.' Scotty continued.

'Yeah but not tonight OK' Cate said as she got up from where she sat on the floor by Scotty, ruffling his hair as she went passed him towards the kitchen. 'You want a drink?' She asked avoiding any further conversation.

'Sure.' Scotty replied taking the photo back out of the box and slipping it into his shirt pocket before he got up to join Cate in the kitchen. 'Got any snack food, I'm getting hungry doing all this hard labor.' Scotty joked as Cate laughed.

'Sure, chips and all that great stuff is in the cupboard beside the fridge.' Cate pointed out as she poured two sodas for her and Scotty who busied himself pulling out the right mix of snack food chips and cookies, choc-chip variety.

'Don't fill up too much on all of that we still have dinner at Kris's tonight.'

'All right mom!' Scotty teased nudging his sister as he passed her back in to the lounge. 'So you like the piano then?' Scotty said as he munched through a mouthful of chips.

'Yeah I love it; it's going with me. Which reminds me I need to talk to Four-Leaf and the boys when they get here tomorrow about that.' Cate said making a mental note of all the things she needed to get done in a short space of time.

'Cheap removal men huh?' Scotty said over his shoulder as he leafed through the sheet music on Cate's coffee table. 'This going to be the set list?'

'Maybe, Kris wants to sing a song and that's the one she wants me and the boys to perform for Julie and Marcus.' Cate explained as she looked over the sheet music with him pointing out the song Kris had chosen for Julie as she sat on the couch behind him where he sat on the floor.

'You know that one would work out nicely for your sister as well.' Scotty pointed out.

'That hadn't exactly escaped my notice either but as I doubt Kelly will be there; well she'll have to hear it another time won't she.' Cate said smiling to Scotty. 'How's mama, you've hardly said?' Cate asked changing subject to the other most important woman in her life.

'You didn't ask.' Scotty smiled teasing his sister who smacked him across the shoulder smiling as she did. 'She's fine, ecstatic actually since hearing your news.'

'I bet she is.' Cate glumly said grabbing a handful of chips from the bag Scotty was hogging to himself.

'Give her a break Cate, she was scared, we all were. You going back to the agency didn't help.'

'Yeah, well mama got her wish, I've left and now she's happy.' Cate sarcastically said picking up her drink.

'You chose to leave Cate, don't blame mama.' Scotty said a stern tone in his voice.

'I'm not blaming her Scotty, but mama didn't make things any easier.'

'I know, sorry.' Scotty apologized wrapping his arm around his sister's leg. Cate chuckled lightly as she patted his head.

'It's all right.'

'Do you regret your decision?' he asked as he turned to face Cate leaning against the coffee table.

'Every day that passes where I realise that I'm not an Angel anymore I suppose I regret that, the worst part will be when one of them gets hurt I wasn't there to help them.'

'That could happen even if you were there.' Scotty pointed out; finished with the chips he put them on the table behind him, taking his drink in its place.

'I know, it's just a thought I will have to deal with, but for right now, it's the right decision, the safest one.' Cate nodded solemnly.

'Well, mama's pleased but she's worried about you still.' Cate laughed out loud at this leaning her head back on the back of the couch as she did.

'Why now?' Cate asked after she had calmed down a little.

'She's worried how it will affect you and Kelly and your friends here. She knows how close you are to the team. Mostly she worried about you and Kelly.' Scotty explained and Cate could tell he was worried about the same thing. Leaning forward Cate put her hands on to Scotty's knees squeezing them slightly.

'You don't need to worry about me and my sister, we'll work this out, we always do.' Cate said as she got up heading for the bathroom. 'Besides, I'm only got to be in Nashville, it's not like I'm joining Jill in Europe or you know somewhere else I might not return from.' Cate threw a smile to her brother as she looked at him over her shoulder winking at him. 'I'm going to grab a shower, before you do and use all my hot water and get ready to go to Kris's.'

'Fine, I might take a run as you're doing that.' Scotty called back to her as she entered into the bathroom turning the shower on. Coming back out she looked at her brother slightly confused.

'You're going out for a run?' Cate asked folding her arms across her chest.

'Yeah, after that stuff I've just eaten and the flight, I could do with a run.' Scotty smiled standing up. Cate had a feeling he was up to something but nodded and turned waving her hand as she went.

'Fine, I'll see you in a bit, don't be too long.' Cate called out as she shut and locked the bathroom door. 'And take the spare key!' She yelled to him.

'Yeah, sure, ok!' Scotty called back going into the spare room to get changed into his running gear, taking the photo from his shirt pocket he wrote a note on the back and slipped it into his sweat pants pocket then scribbled down address he tied his sneakers, grabbed the spare key from the hook and left.

Scotty ran for a while stopping every once in a while to get directions, he knew Cate didn't live far away from where he wanted to get to. Finally he made his destination, taking a moment to catch his breath he walked up to the front door, and pushed the button for the doorbell to ring. After a few moments the door was opened.

'We need to talk.' Scotty said as Kelly held the door open for him to enter in, a little surprised to find him on her doorstep.

A few hours later Cate, with Scotty pulled up outside Kris's beach house.

'Nice.' Scotty said with awe dressed in a short-sleeved casual white buttoned down shirt and dark blue jeans, the tips of his black cowboy boots sticking out from under his jeans.

'Not bad huh? They had a nice job done too on the remodeling after the fire here a while back. You can hardly tell there was a fire here.' Cate explained as she stood next to her brother pointing things out about the home. She wore her blue jeans with white t-shirt that had a dark blue print on it of a surfer taking a large wave her feet poking out from under her jeans as she wore her flip-flops.

'You two gonna stand there gawking at the place all evening or are you coming up?' Kris called down to them from the decking above their heads.

'You see baby brother; this is why I love coming here, the hospitality.' Cate teased indicating towards Kris.

'Yeah whatever Fox, get up here, Julie's trying to bar-b-q and it's hilarious!' Kris laughed with a wicked grin.

'Hey! I heard that!' Julie called from the hidden side of the beach house.

'Come let's get up there before they start another fire.' Cate joked leading the way for her brother. Joining Julie and Kris on the decking by the BBQ Julie turned to Cate putting an arm around her neck hugging her whilst poking at the coals that were now beginning to flame up nicely. Kris threw her arms around Scotty giving him a big hug then introducing him to Julie, as the two had never met face to face.

'Nice to meet you on this side of the bars.' Scotty teased as he shook Julie's hand who rolled her eyes scowling at Cate.

'I see you share the same sense of humor as your sister.' Julie said then playfully shoving Cate who stood by the BBQ prodding at it with the tongs.

'Hey! Look, how about this, Scotty you make up for it by cooking up the BBQ.' Cate offered on her brother's behalf who was happy to take over.

'Shame Danny isn't here, his BBQ was fantastic.' Kris gushed remembering Scotty and Cate's older brothers cooking.

'It runs in the family Kris, in fact I'd say mine was better.' Scotty smiled smugly.

'I'll remember to tell him that when we next speak.' Cate teased as she sat down with Kris and Julie just off to the side from where Scotty was cooking.

'So how are the plans for the party coming?' Julie asked looking to Cate.

'No use asking me, Kris is the party planner for this one, I'm just supplying the venue and the band. Four-Leaf and the others arrive tomorrow by the way.' Cate replied looking at Kris when she mentioned Four-Leaf.

'Who are they?' Julie asked confused.

'Old friends of mine that Kris met when we were running the Cannonball with Jill and Kelly.'

'Looks like I miss out on all the fun.' Julie teased with her wicked grin.

'Not everything, just most things.' Kris teased back being rewarded with a nudge to her knee from Julie's foot.

'So you're definitely going to go then?' Julie asked tilting her head to one side her piercing blue eyes dulling a little with sadness as she asked.

'Afraid so Julie, it's just time to move on.' Cate smiled warmly as she spoke.

'At least for a little while.' Kris said looking across to Cate, hoping that her friend would come back sooner rather than later.

'We'll see. I need, well we need.' Cate corrected herself looking to her brother who being masked in the smoke of the BBQ. 'To get the bar up and running and moving along before we can really head off for any vacations or visits, you might just have to come to us.' Cate said with a slight chuckle.

'What about Kelly?' Julie asked bringing up the obvious ghost in the room. Cate leaned back in her seat propping her feet up on the strut in front of her sighing deeply.

'I don't know Julie, I'd like things to be settled between us before I leave and I know we're as stubborn as one another but she just won't see reason or tell me what's really bothering her about me leaving.'

'What do you think the reason is?' Kris asked knowing full well what the reason was but didn't want to break her trust with Kelly.

'That I'm leaving without her, that I'm leaving her on her own.' Cate explained with a heavy heart, Scotty placing a supportive hand on his sister's shoulder as she did. Cate looked up to her brother smiling appreciatively.

'But she has us here and other friends.' Julie reasoned.

'Yeah but it's not the same. How long before you decide you've had enough Julie and want to try a career in something else, maybe something safer or the time when Kris you want to go off will Jill. What happens when you meet someone and want to settle down?'

'Who's to say we won't still work for Charlie even if we do meet someone?' Julie countered.

'Perhaps.' Cate answered smiling knowingly.

'I think this thing is now ready for the food to be thrown on.' Scotty said breaking the thoughtful silence. Kris laughed as she cheered a little getting up from her seat to retrieve the food from indoors.

'Are you going to be this organized for the party?' Cate called out after her.

'Of course, everything is organized and just has to be picked up tomorrow and Saturday morning before we start.' Kris explained as she brought out a large plate with burgers, bacon and sausages stacked on it. 'Here you go Scotty.' Kris passed the plate to the chef. The rest of the evening passed without incident but a lot of laughter and fun for the friends who ended up on the beach itself with a Frisbee. Scotty, having taken off his boot, and Cate on one team against Julie and Kris who both felt hard done by, as Scotty and Cate were both taller than they were.

'There's nothing we can do about us having superior height genes in comparison to you two short asses.' Cate teased and for her jibe was tackled around the waste by Kris throwing them both into the breakwater of the ocean. Julie and Scotty stood just in front of them away from the water laughing hard as Kris and Cate both laughing and flopping their arms up and down to shake off the excess water both kneeled in the water that continuously kept rolling in and out. Cate looked to Scotty catching his attention and nodded towards Julie who wasn't paying any attention to him Scotty in fluid movement swept Julie off of her feet and rushed with her in his arms into the water, Julie screaming with laughter and threats all the way until he dropped her in the water that was up around his waist. The group continued their time in the water having a huge water fight.

From a distance away Kelly watched over of her friends and family enjoying themselves, she wanted to join them, wanted to crash into the water and dunk Scotty just as Julie now was but she couldn't bring herself to, she couldn't see past her own stubborn self. Kelly looked down to the photo in her hands, the one Scotty had left with her earlier that day as he left her home after their long talk, turning the photo she again read what he had written. Smiling and shaking her head she placed the photo back onto the passenger car seat as she got in the car, turning the engine on Kelly took another long look down at the water smiled and drove back home.

The following morning Cate was woken with such a shock she literally fell out of her bed. Loud continuous banging came from her front door.

'What the hell is that?!' She yelled as she stormed out of her bedroom, Scotty stood in the doorway of his room yawning and scratching his head.

'The door.' Scotty answered as Cate stormed passed him dressed in her cotton pajama bottoms and white vest top. Ignoring her brother Cate continued storming to the door.

'What!' Cate yelled as she swung open the door.

'Catey girl!' Four –Leaf called throwing his arms in the air excited to see his friend as the rest of their band mates and friends were unloading the truck they had driven down in.

'Four-Leaf, do you know what time it is?' Cate asked still annoyed.

'A little after ten darlin' Four-Leaf said in his sweet smooth Irish accent. Cate looked at him stunned.

'After ten!' Cate repeated shocked, she hadn't slept in that late in ages.

'Where are we setting up the gear?' Four-Leaf oblivious to Cate's reaction or what she was wearing.

'Around back in the yard.' Cate pointed over her shoulder.

'Right-o.' Four-Leaf cheerily said before he whistled to the rest of the band. Cate coming back to attention took a hold of Four-Leaf's arm.

'Four-Leaf wait, bring the gear inside the party isn't until tomorrow.' Four-Leaf smiled a wide smile nodding and jogged over to the rest of their friends grabbing his guitar case and leading the way back into Cate's home. Cate went to the kitchen switching on the coffee machine she'd prepared before she went to bed the night before.

'Scotty!' Cate heard Four-Leaf call out followed by slapping of hands on backs.

As the rest of the morning passed Four-Leaf and the band set up whilst Cate and Scotty got washed and dressed, Cate managing to fit in a phone call to Kris to let her know the band had arrived and that it was time to now rehearse.

'So you're sure you want to do this song luv?' Four-Leaf asked Kris as they all sat around with instruments in hands and microphones set-up.

'I'm sure Four-Leaf, this song means a lot.' Kris smiled looking over to Cate who wasn't paying attention at the time; far too busy tuning guitars with Scotty. Four-Leaf followed her look then nodded understanding.

'All right then let's run it through, work it all out.' Four-Leaf smiled. The group rehearsed for the next few hours stopping when Kris noticed the time.

'Whoa, look at the time! I'm going to be late!' Kris announced hopping over cables and legs as she rushed to grab her purse and jacket on the chair by the front door.

'You know she hates it when you're late.' Cate teased with a wicked smile propping her guitar in its stand as she got up to see Kris out.

'Who?' Scotty asked.

'Kelly.' Kris and Cate said in unison. Scotty nodded his head as he turned his attention back to his guitar.

'Any messages?' Kris asked Cate as she threw on her denim jacket. Cate looked to Kris with a smirk her eyebrow raised. 'Didn't think so.' Kris answered rolling her eyes as she opened the front door walking out to the drive. Cate sighed following her friend out of the house.

'Kris wait. Tell Kelly I'd really love for her to be here tomorrow, really.' Kris smiled nodding.

'I'll tell her.' Kris got into her car turning the engine she reversed as quickly and carefully as she could out of the drive and headed off to meet Kelly, Cate stood at the mouth of her drive waving her friend off before turning and walking back into the house with the others. Walking back into the house Cate looked over her friends and brother and smiled tomorrow was going to be fun, if she was lucky her sister would be there to enjoy it with her, Cate smile fell as she thought of this.

'I doubt it.' Cate quietly said to herself.

'You doubt what darling?' Four-Leaf asked over hearing.

'Nothing Four-Leaf come on; let's go through the set again.' Cate put on a smile took hold of her guitar again and sat with the band starting through their set all over again until it was right, well at least right enough for them.