Chapter Nine
Days passing made Caleb frustrated. A week going by made him furious. This never ending quest had him losing focus, picking fights with Livvie, and worst of all - slowly losing control.
It was completely unacceptable.
In the past he hadn't had the need to use the ring but Joshua had made it all too clear what happened when it was out of his hands. It had made him vulnerable and he vowed, whatever it took, he would not be vulnerable ever again.
Alison's wish was a sweet one - to have them all play nice. It would never come true, not until he had what belonged to him. He still was not convinced that those close to her were not involved somehow.
There was someone out there who was keeping him from his destiny. Caleb could feel it, almost taste the power that he'd possess once the ring was back in his hands. He was close to figuring out who it was and when he did - they would pay dearly.
*************
What a week it had been. Abby could hardly believe it. Getting to know Alison these past few days was incredible.
Equally as incredible is the good news she knew she'd be getting soon. Alison was about to add another member to her - well, I guess now she could say, their family.
She could also see the bad news. Caleb was getting desperate. She was sure it would occur to him soon there was one other person nearby when Joshua was killed. It was only a matter of time before he came looking for her. Could she really hide the fact that she held his ring?
Caleb must know. He must have some idea. All this danger, it wasn't something she was used to or at all comfortable with. She had been able to save Alison but all this was so new to her. Maybe she should try and talk to Rafe but why spoil everything good that was happening to them. It was no use. The only good thing about concentrating on the ring did was get her mind off Cameron.
She tried. Every day she tried. When she woke in the morning, when she fell asleep at night she tried all she could to forget him, to do what he asked.
It was impossible.
Alison said she was going to try and figure out a way to get him to come back, and though Abby knew she meant it she was also sure Alison had way too much going on in her life right now to have to worry about her too.
Abby shivered a bit as she got ready for bed, wondering what the next day would bring.
************
Hours had passed, but neither of them noticed, the truth of it all still not fully sinking in. Curled up next to Rafe as they sat on the bed, Alison's head kept nodding on his shoulder as she fought sleep. She wanted nothing more than to keep this moment forever.
They were going to have their family.
As he held her, his arm snaked around her waist and his hand moved to rest once again on her stomach as if it had a will of it's own. He still couldn't believe it was true.
When he came back and knew he'd be able to live a life with Alison, Rafe had thought that nothing else would make him feel more alive. But this - this was nearly too much to take. Not only did he get to live his life, he would be responsible for creating a new one.
He had the same thought he'd had earlier. Every thing - every single thing that they had to go through was worth it. This moment made it all worthwhile.
Alison had been talking, of how she realized why she had been so sick and what the doctor had said and when they would have to go see her again. Her words got softer, she yawned as she spoke and her head finally stopped nodding and settled on his shoulder. Rafe heard her sigh one last time before sleep won at last.
He held her tighter as he looked around their apartment, not quite big enough for three. He thought of their business that was nearly ready to open and prayed it would be the success he hoped it would become.
He had a lot to do in the next seven months.
A little more than a half a year and his world would change yet again. As always it was all because of Alison.
As Alison filled Rafe's thoughts, dreams filled her own head; the nightmares she'd fought recently had no business there today.
So many of hers had already come true, but this was the best of all. A family. As furious as she was with her, she had her mother back - her crazy, mixed up and self-absorbed mother. Alison smiled in her sleep as she thought of how she also had Abby - her sister, who she was just really starting to get to know but already loved and now.now she would have add another member to the family she shared with the man who had been her family since practically the day she met him. Rafe, she murmured, still deep in sleep. As she spoke his name his arms tightened around her.
What an amazing father he will be. She had kidded him before, but she meant it - he'll be obsessive and overprotective but he'll also be so incredibly loving she knew without a doubt - that their child would be the one of the luckiest people in the world. She should know. She was one of them herself.
Days passing made Caleb frustrated. A week going by made him furious. This never ending quest had him losing focus, picking fights with Livvie, and worst of all - slowly losing control.
It was completely unacceptable.
In the past he hadn't had the need to use the ring but Joshua had made it all too clear what happened when it was out of his hands. It had made him vulnerable and he vowed, whatever it took, he would not be vulnerable ever again.
Alison's wish was a sweet one - to have them all play nice. It would never come true, not until he had what belonged to him. He still was not convinced that those close to her were not involved somehow.
There was someone out there who was keeping him from his destiny. Caleb could feel it, almost taste the power that he'd possess once the ring was back in his hands. He was close to figuring out who it was and when he did - they would pay dearly.
*************
What a week it had been. Abby could hardly believe it. Getting to know Alison these past few days was incredible.
Equally as incredible is the good news she knew she'd be getting soon. Alison was about to add another member to her - well, I guess now she could say, their family.
She could also see the bad news. Caleb was getting desperate. She was sure it would occur to him soon there was one other person nearby when Joshua was killed. It was only a matter of time before he came looking for her. Could she really hide the fact that she held his ring?
Caleb must know. He must have some idea. All this danger, it wasn't something she was used to or at all comfortable with. She had been able to save Alison but all this was so new to her. Maybe she should try and talk to Rafe but why spoil everything good that was happening to them. It was no use. The only good thing about concentrating on the ring did was get her mind off Cameron.
She tried. Every day she tried. When she woke in the morning, when she fell asleep at night she tried all she could to forget him, to do what he asked.
It was impossible.
Alison said she was going to try and figure out a way to get him to come back, and though Abby knew she meant it she was also sure Alison had way too much going on in her life right now to have to worry about her too.
Abby shivered a bit as she got ready for bed, wondering what the next day would bring.
************
Hours had passed, but neither of them noticed, the truth of it all still not fully sinking in. Curled up next to Rafe as they sat on the bed, Alison's head kept nodding on his shoulder as she fought sleep. She wanted nothing more than to keep this moment forever.
They were going to have their family.
As he held her, his arm snaked around her waist and his hand moved to rest once again on her stomach as if it had a will of it's own. He still couldn't believe it was true.
When he came back and knew he'd be able to live a life with Alison, Rafe had thought that nothing else would make him feel more alive. But this - this was nearly too much to take. Not only did he get to live his life, he would be responsible for creating a new one.
He had the same thought he'd had earlier. Every thing - every single thing that they had to go through was worth it. This moment made it all worthwhile.
Alison had been talking, of how she realized why she had been so sick and what the doctor had said and when they would have to go see her again. Her words got softer, she yawned as she spoke and her head finally stopped nodding and settled on his shoulder. Rafe heard her sigh one last time before sleep won at last.
He held her tighter as he looked around their apartment, not quite big enough for three. He thought of their business that was nearly ready to open and prayed it would be the success he hoped it would become.
He had a lot to do in the next seven months.
A little more than a half a year and his world would change yet again. As always it was all because of Alison.
As Alison filled Rafe's thoughts, dreams filled her own head; the nightmares she'd fought recently had no business there today.
So many of hers had already come true, but this was the best of all. A family. As furious as she was with her, she had her mother back - her crazy, mixed up and self-absorbed mother. Alison smiled in her sleep as she thought of how she also had Abby - her sister, who she was just really starting to get to know but already loved and now.now she would have add another member to the family she shared with the man who had been her family since practically the day she met him. Rafe, she murmured, still deep in sleep. As she spoke his name his arms tightened around her.
What an amazing father he will be. She had kidded him before, but she meant it - he'll be obsessive and overprotective but he'll also be so incredibly loving she knew without a doubt - that their child would be the one of the luckiest people in the world. She should know. She was one of them herself.